A Case Study in Effectively Bridging the Business Skills Gap for the Information Technology Professional

Abstract

A longitudinal study of information technology (IT) managers at a Fortune 200 company in the Southwest United States was conducted to assess the effectiveness of a training program at bridging the perceived business skills gap for IT employees. A needs assessment was carried out, resulting in a 4-module training program. The program was evaluated for its ability to meet specific business skills deficiencies. Student perceptions were measured both at the time each skill module was delivered and at the conclusion of the training program with an online survey of all participants. Based on these results, the authors propose business training for skills often lacking in technology professionals to bridge the gap between technical skills training and leadership training.

Keywords:

• business skills
• future trends
• nontechnical
• skills gap
• training