Training needs assessment in the IT industry: a decade of insights and emerging research opportunities

Context:The Region V Public Health Training Center (RVPHTC) serves the public health workforce in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. An important tool in priority-setting workforce development is the training needs assessment (TNA), which is vital to identifying and addressing the capacity-building needs of the public health workforce.Program:In 2021, we conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with key partners in the local, state, and tribal health workforce.Implementation:Findings reflect the results of 23 interviews administered from March to May 2021. Questions solicited in-depth input related to key training gaps identified in our 2020 quantitative TNA; the impact of COVID-19 on the public health workforce; general needs, including preferred training modalities; needs by audience type; and the current capacity for public health agencies to support student development.Evaluation:Key training needs of the public health workforce identified by the 2021 TNA include the strategic skills domains of (1) resource management; (2) change management; (3) justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion; and (4) effective communication. The first 3 domains were also noted as having the greatest training need in our 2020 quantitative TNA of local health department leadership.Discussion:The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for training in effective communication in new ways and the continued need for training support in the skill domains prioritized in the 2020 assessment. Findings demonstrate the need for capacity building around crosscutting skills and the intersection of strategic skill domains if the field is to be prepared for future threats to public health.

Malaysia is experiencing a period of rapid growth and, thus, Malaysian academic libraries are under increasing pressure to adopt the latest information and communication technology and management techniques to improve their services. In order to cope with these pressures, libraries need to conduct training needs assessments (TNA) and upgrade the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of their staff. A training needs assessment exercise requires a lot of time and effort. It was felt, as a first step, that at least a study of the perceptions of LIS professionals regarding their continuing professional development (CPD) requirements should be undertaken. This article presents the results of a survey of academic librarians' perceptions of their continuing professional development needs in Malaysia. The study concentrates on the continuing professional development environment in academic libraries, constraints affecting participation, suitable period and duration for continuing professional development activities, and potential competencies for developing continuing professional development programmes in the areas of professional, information and communication technology, management, and research skills. Recommendations are made to further develop the continuing professional development programmes.

Indian industry is passing through the toughest phase of cutthroat competition. Hence, in the given context, tapping on the competencies and enhancing them for the industry does not remain just an issue for effectiveness rather is a necessity for their survival. The main focus of the present research was to develop competency mapping based training need assessment (TNA) system for two levels of hierarchy i.e. scale one and scale two officers, working for a leading Indian bank. For this purpose a scientific competency evaluation tool (psychometric scale) was developed (218-items) to measure 18 behavioral competencies. After the pilot testing of the instrument the data was collected from 1001 officers. This study measured the confidence level of bank managers on critical job functions (a 66-item scale was developed). Organizational climate survey was also done to align the training needs to the organizational requirements. Results were analyzed to assess the presence/absence of these competencies, the confidence level on the job function and also the overall climate perceived and its relationship with the needed competencies. Bank and region-wise training needs were derived. Research also tried to understand the relationship between the training given and confidence level on job function. The detail results and interpretation are presented in the paper.

The palm oil plantation sector remains a central pillar of Indonesia’s agricultural economy, yet persistent gaps in worker competencies hinder productivity, safety, and sustainable practices. This study conducts a comprehensive Training Needs Assessment (TNA) for plantation workers in Kampar Regency one of the country’s major palm oil–producing regions to identify both technical and non-technical skill deficiencies that limit workforce performance. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 20 respondents representing managerial, supervisory, administrative, and field-level roles across 10 companies. Quantitative findings reveal that the most urgent technical training needs include harvesting and processing skills (30%) and occupational safety (30%), while information technology literacy and heavy machinery operations remain secondary but emerging priorities. Non-technical needs are dominated by leadership and team management (35%), followed by problem-solving (25%) and effective communication (15%). Notably, 60% of respondents reported that existing training is insufficient, and 90% expressed the need for technology-based training as plantations shift toward digitalization. The findings highlight significant competency gaps that threaten productivity and the adoption of sustainable and technology-driven practices. This study argues that TNA should be an adaptive, multi-level process aligned with organizational strategy, especially as palm oil companies confront global sustainability standards (ISPO/RSPO). Recommendations include designing tiered training programs, strengthening digital literacy, and enhancing managerial soft skills to support long-term competitiveness in the plantation industry.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum), a member of the family Solanaceae, is among the most important staple crops in Pakistan, contributing significantly to food security and rural livelihoods. The country has a highly suitable climate for potato cultivation, and the crop is widely grown across diverse agroecological zones. However, farmers often fail to receive adequate returns for their efforts due to limited technical skills and inadequate access to modern production practices. Skill enhancement alone cannot improve productivity unless actual training needs are properly identified. Training Needs Assessment (TNA) is a systematic approach used to identify gaps between existing and desired knowledge, skills, and performance. Its purpose is to determine the specific competencies farmers require to enhance their productivity and decision-making capacity. Potato is a major vegetable crop in District Attock, where a large proportion of the population depends on its cultivation. This study was conducted in District Attock, which comprises six tehsils. Hazro Tehsil was selected through random sampling, followed by the selection of three Union Councils and three villages within each. From each village, 20 potato growers were randomly selected, resulting in a total sample size of 180 respondents. Data were collected through a validated interview schedule and analyzed using Excel and SPSS. Descriptive statistics showed that 33.9% of respondents were aged 26-35 years, 32.2% were illiterate, and only 22.8% had completed matric education. Most respondents (45%) were solely engaged in farming. The major constraints to potato production were low yields due to inadequate training and insufficient practical knowledge of pest and disease management. Training was identified as essential for improving farmers’ skills, awareness, and overall potato productivity.

State-of-the-art perspectives on data-driven sustainable supply chain: A bibliometric and network analysis approach

In the digital era, education has undergone a significant transformation thanks to advancements in information and communication technology. Augmented Reality is an educational medium that utilizes the development of digital technology in its progress. This study aims to analyse research trends regarding the use of Augmented Reality in science education at the elementary school level. The method used is bibliometric analysis with documents sourced from the Scopus database within the last 10 years of publication (2013-2023). This analysis includes emerging themes related to Augmented Reality in science education at the elementary school level, as well as publication trends based on keywords. The results show that (a) there are four themes, namely the development of Augmented Reality media, the effectiveness of Augmented Reality in science education at the elementary school level, the implementation of Augmented Reality media in teaching, and the enhancement of critical and creative thinking skills; (b) one meta-theme, which is the use of Augmented Reality media to improve the quality of science education at the elementary school level; and (c) the keyword Augmented Reality is not yet connected to the keywords cooperative and collaborative learning, which represents a research gap that can be further explored in future studies. Keywords: augmented reality, science, elementary school, bibliometric analysis. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23960/jpmipa/v25i2.pp814-826

Purpose Behavioral finance is now recognized as a significant subfield of finance, contradicting the conventional assumptions of investor rationality that form the foundation of classical economic theory. The purpose of this study is to investigate the systematic review and bibliometric analysis of behavioral finance, a relatively new field of study. Design/methodology/approach We extracted 454 documents from the Scopus database, one of the highly incredible sources for the period from 2000 to 2024. Then, we finally performed bibliometric analysis of a total of 175 articles. The Biblioshiny package in RStudio has been used to do bibliometric analysis. Additionally, VOSviewer software was employed to map relationships between authors, keywords, and resources through network mapping to conduct citation, co-citation and social network analysis. Findings The result shows there is substantial growth and increasing academic recognition in the field of behavioral finance. The United States leads research output and citation impact in behavioral finance, with 77 publications and 1,059 citations. India follows with 60 publications and 710 citations. The Journal of Economic Literature and the Journal of Finance are the top journals in this field, with 1,249 and 1,003 citations, respectively. The findings also highlight a notable rise in international collaborations and an increase in the average number of publications globally in behavioral finance. Research limitations/implications The current study is a bibliometric analysis with few limitations. The dataset was sourced exclusively from the Scopus database. Future research could explore a more extensive bibliometric dataset for greater depth of analysis, a strong conceptual framework and emergent themes in the field of behavioral finance. Practical implications The present study provides valuable insights for scholars and industry professionals. Its research can potentially assist managers in identifying the most recent advancements in behavioral finance and elucidating how these developments influence effective investment decisions. Originality/value This study contributes to the expanding corpus of knowledge in behavioral finance by providing a comprehensive bibliometric analysis in this field, offering a novel perspective on the scholarly progress and evolving structure of research in behavioral finance.

To conduct a bibliometric analysis, several researchers retrieve publications from Scopus or/and Web of Science (WOS) databases. When these scholars consider both Scopus and WOS databases, they mostly make two bibliometric analysis: one from Scopus database and the other from WOS database. A few researchers merge the two databases to conduct a single analysis, but they do not specify how they did it. This paper aims to advance the bibliometric analysis by addressing two points. First, this research claims that making a bibliometric analysis that takes information from Scopus or/and separately from WOS cannot give a broader view of knowledge and tendencies in a field. To prove this claim, we retrieve papers from Scopus and WOS databases to make a bibliometric analysis of sales force literature that covers from 1912 to 2019. Results show that there are many disparities between WOS and merged database, and between this latter and WOS database regarding bibliometric analyses, especially among primary productive authors, the most influential papers, and keyword occurrences. Second, this research proposes a four-step procedure that merges these two databases to allow more reliable bibliometric analyses. This procedure was explicitly shown by using the bibliometric analysis of sales force literature during 1912–2019.

This study presents a framework and viewpoint on the intellectual structure and evolution of customer experience research in the service literature. Using the Scopus database, journal articles on customer experience have been extracted and examined to unearth the source knowledge and main themes via a two-step approach of bibliometric (citation and co-citation) and content analyses. The bibliometric analysis has revealed five main clusters of the knowledge domain: (1) methodology and information technology, (2) customer co-creation of value, (3) service quality and customer satisfaction, (4) tourist experience, (5) customer perception in service environments. Based on the literature review, content analysis was subsequently performed to reveal recent articles from each cluster. Overall, this article comprehensively examines customer experience literature in the service industries. Results present a holistic comprehension of the knowledge domain, reveal scientific progress, and provide main directions and questions for further academic efforts.

This study aimed to identify current research trends and future directions in the field of emotional intelligence and job performance through bibliometric and thematic analysis. Data were collected from 327 documents published between 2000 and 2024 in the Scopus database. Using descriptive statistics, bibliometric analysis, and thematic analysis with VOSViewer software, the findings indicate that the relationship between emotional intelligence and job performance has been a longstanding research focus and continues to grow, especially in fields like business and management, with concentrated research efforts in leading developed nations such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Thematic analysis identified five primary research directions and confirmed the strong relationship between emotional intelligence and job performance. Particularly in critical fields like education, healthcare, information technology, banking, and hospitality, this topic has received considerable attention and is expected to continue producing notable research in the future. Additionally, the study’s findings suggest that the rapid advancement of science and technology, multicultural business environments, and the increasing complexity of workplace crises and conflict resolution underscore the necessity for continued exploration of emotional intelligence and its connection to job performance. Future research in this area is anticipated to diversify and expand across various industries and organizational types, adapting to the evolving demands of modern business settings. AcknowledgmentThis study is a product of the doctoral dissertation project carried out under decision No. 4740/QD-ĐHDT dated October 18, 2023, from Duy Tan University, Vietnam.

Thorough TNA (Training Needs Assessment) conducted by universities or institutions can address the challenges and professional deficiencies occurring at student level. Taking this into consideration, the present study was administered to systematically identify the training needs of final year undergraduate (UG) students of three different colleges of Pantnagar University. The colleges were selected purposively and 65 percent of total number of final year students registered in three colleges was considered as the sample i.e. n=155 for carrying out this study. The training needs were exploited using the structured questionnaires. The importance of training needs was measured by using 3-point Likert scale and prioritized by calculating Weighted Mean Score (WMS) of each item. Profile characteristics of students show that majority of them were from middle age group, residing in rural area and belonging to middle-class families. Most of them (27.09%) also have their source of income through fellowships or giving tuitions etc. With respect to communication characteristics, students had easy access to internet and high exposure towards Information and Communication Technologies sources such as smartphone (100%), laptop (55%), tablet (29.67%) and MAC book (8.38%). The preferred learning style of students was also studied which revealed visual-haptic style of learning (53%) followed by visual- intellectual learning (49%). Most importantly, study revealed that majority (82.58%) had received various trainings via online and offline modes which shows their curiosity and motivation to grasp new knowledge and skills. The most important training areas exploited included Digi-apps for designing and development of content, trading and networking, cyber security, AI tools for career enhancement, entrepreneurial skills, advanced and digital agriculture and many others.

Introduction: In today's dynamic business environment, identifying and understanding skills, knowledge, and competencies at various levels – from individuals to teams, departments, and the organization – has become critical to organizational success. This is especially important in IT organizations where the rapid pace of technological change requires continuous competency mapping and personalized skill development. The purpose of this research is to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can revolutionize competency mapping and skill development by automating and personalizing these processes and addressing the challenges posed by traditional methods that struggle to keep up with evolving needs. Objectives: To develop a framework for identifying and assessing AI-related competencies for IT role using AI-powered tools. To investigate the factors influencing the successful implementation of AI-powered training programs for IT professionals. To examine the impact of AI-driven personalized skill development on employee engagement and productivity. To analyze the ethical considerations and challenges of using AI for competency mapping and skill development in IT. To develop a methodology for measuring and demonstrating the ROI of AI- powered skill development initiatives in IT. Methods: The paper examines the role of artificial intelligence tools such as machine learning and data analytics in helping IT organizations assess current competencies, identify skills gaps, and provide employees with customized development paths. This approach includes analyzing how AI can be used to evaluate employee skills for team building and project planning, identifying key competencies, and bridging skills gaps through targeted training. Research focuses on how AI can help leaders (executives, department heads, project managers, and team leaders) identify critical expertise, facilitate team-building decisions, and ensure employees understand the skills needed for personal career growth. Findings- The survey results revealed a nuanced perspective on AI-driven competency mapping and skill development among IT professionals. While a significant portion expressed a strong belief in the potential of AI to enhance skills and career growth, the actual impact perceived by respondents was limited. Concerns were raised regarding the accuracy of AI assessments and the alignment of AI-driven learning recommendations with individual needs. Additionally, respondents expressed a need for greater transparency and trust in the use of AI for employee development. Despite these concerns, a significant minority strongly believe that AI has positively influenced their skills and career progression. These findings suggest that while AI holds significant promise, further refinement and improvement in the implementation and utilization of AI-powered solutions are crucial to maximize their impact on employee development and build an AI-ready workforce. Results: The survey results revealed a mixed response to AI-driven competency mapping and skill development among IT professionals. While a significant portion of respondents expressed strong agreement on the potential benefits of AI in enhancing skills and career growth, a considerable number remained neutral. Notably, the "Agree" category consistently showed lower responses, suggesting that respondents were not fully convinced about the current effectiveness of AI-powered solutions. Despite this, a significant minority strongly agreed that AI tools have positively impacted their skills and career progression. These findings highlight the need for further development and refinement of AI-powered solutions to better address the needs and expectations of IT professionals. Conclusions: The conclusions highlight the need for a strategic and human-centered approach to AI-driven employee development. By addressing the identified challenges and leveraging the potential of AI in a responsible and ethical manner, organizations can create a more agile, skilled, and competitive workforce in the age of artificial intelligence.

Research Trend of Computational Thinking in Phiysics Learning: a Bibliometric Analysis from 2015 to 2024. This study performs bibliometric analysis to examine research development on CT in physics education for the years spanning 2015-2024. Objective: The study seeks to outline the research and intellectual history of Computation Thinking (CT) integration within a specific framework by examining its spatial development in terms of the primary contributors CT’s development through analyzing cumulative research, leading journals, contributing countries, dominant scholars, thematic networks and the changes of key topics over time. Methods: From the Scopus database, 345 peer-reviewed journal articles were selected. To visualize research networks, VOSviewer was used, while Bibliometrix in R Studio was used to analyze publication trends, author contributions, journal impact, citations, and assess the citation patterns of work over time. Findings: From the Scopus database, a total of 345 peer-reviewed journals were selected. The quantitative data analysis involving visualization of research networks was done using VOSviewer, while Bibliometrix (R Studio) was used for evaluation of publication and author contributions in relation to impact, citation, and trends. Findings indicate significant growth in research focused on Computational Thinking (CT) in Physics Education, with an overarching 33.86% annual increase, peaking in 2023. The research covers 156 journals, with the most prolific being Education and Information Technologies. The evaluation emphasized the exceptional worldwide collaboration with 1,216 authors from countries like the United States, Indonesia, and China. Intent phrase clusters included “computational thinking”, “augmented reality”, and “STEM education” indicating an emphasis on the integration of CT with advanced technologies. The evolution of themes indicates movement from STEM simulations to more expansive virtual reality and critical thinking. Conclusions: The advancements in physics education and students' problem-solving skills, as well as teaching innovations through International collaborations, have begun using Computational Thinking CT). Keywords: computational thinking, physics education, bibliometric analysis, vosviewer, bibliometrix.

O estudo teve como objetivo levantar o referencial teórico por meio de uma infometria para identificar o estado da arte sobre a “Governança Corporativa”, “Informação”, “Tecnologia da informação”, “Precificação de Ações” e “Riscos de mercado”, em português/inglês, a partir de palavras-chave/termos, pesquisadas nas bases Web of Science e Scopus no período de 2015 a 2020. Para este portfólio, fez-se então uma análise bibliométrica e uma revisão sistemática da literatura visando construir o conhecimento referente aos assuntos. Como os artigos na base Scopus também estavam presentes na base Web of Science e por ser um número menor de artigos encontrados na base Scopus, decidiu-se manter somente na continuidade da pesquisa os artigos da base Web of Science, total de 307 artigos, em inglês; por ser a base escolhida uma base bem completa, multidisciplinar e ser aceitável o acesso para o uso dos softwares VOSViewer e NVivo usados neste estudo. Os artigos analisados foram todos de 2020 por serem mais atuais possíveis. Infere-se que neste estudo a maioria dos autores estuda de maneira isolada, sem conexões. Efetuou-se análise de documentos no acoplamento bibliográfico de 30 artigos. Sendo assim, destaca-se o ineditismo e o gap na pesquisa. Afirma-se que as palavras buscadas no estudo quando todas juntas aos operadores booleanos não são encontradas nos respectivos artigos. Embora em todos os artigos estudados jazer explicitado a presença do termo “Information” somente. Notória a importância deste termo para os autores, num contexto amplo entende-se que a “informação” é elemento essencial para a sobrevivência humana.