INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING,
MANAGEMENT & APPLIED SCIENCE (IJLTEMAS)
ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XIV, Issue X, October 2025
Intensive training has been found to significantly improve employees' core competence, reducing specific gaps in safety issues and
troubleshooting, leading to a 60% success rate in core competency (Al-Qadhi & Abdullah, 2021). Additionally, the 'culture gap'
between IT professionals and business colleagues is a key factor in limiting the successful utilization of IT in companies (Grindley,
1992). This gap highlights the need for IT professionals to not only have technical skills but also to understand and integrate into
the broader business culture.
Furthermore, while hard skills are critical, soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, interpersonal skills, motivation, and
a positive attitude may be more in demand than specific hard skills in the IT industry (Schirf & Serapiglia, 2017). A training program
that bridges the business skills gap for IT employees has been shown to improve their performance, highlighting the importance of
business acumen in the IT sector (Gorman, 2011).
Moreover, despite employers seeking a variety of skill sets from new hires, the recruitment process often focuses on "hard skills"
despite valuing well-rounded individuals with business knowledge and good "soft skills" (Gallivan, Truex, & Kvasny, 2002).
Additionally, attaining top management support can be facilitated by the business and managerial knowledge and skills of IT/IS
personnel and the business-oriented role of the IT/IS department (Stemberger, Manfreda, & Kovačič, 2011).
Skill gaps refer to the circumstance where workers lack the necessary competence to do a task at the desired level. In order for a
firm to progress, it is crucial to thoroughly evaluate the talent gaps that exist. This examination of skill gaps yields significant
insights about the challenges faced by employees. In order to allow the manager to focus on the essential abilities needed to
improve employees' performance.
Despite the efforts of certain organisations to conduct orientations and training programmes, there remains a significant gap that
hinders the progress of an organisation. Moreover, the disparity in skills might diminish a company's profits and negatively impact
its long-term viability. Luftman, Kempaiah, and Nash (2006) identified crucial factors that facilitate the successful alignment of
IT with business management, including: (a) IT comprehends the company's business environment, (b) IT and the business maintain
a strong cooperation, (c) IT exhibits effective leadership, and (d) IT's strategies. Therefore, it is crucial for the business to identify,
develop, and execute strategies that can improve and strengthen employee performance. Due to its potential to generate favourable
changes within organisations compared to previous methods. Assessing the proficiency of experts and employees in performing
their job is crucial for enhancing performance and attaining the company's objectives.
II. Review of Existing Literature
In a study conducted by Shrivarma (2019), the fundamental connection between skill and employee performance was identified.
The study aimed to evaluate the skill gap and understand the correlation between skills and the performance of employees in the
design sector. In his 2009 study titled 'Bridging the skill gap: regionally driven strategy for resolving the construction labour
market crisis', D. Andrew Stephen identified several factors that may have contributed to the recent decline in skill development.
This decline can be attributed primarily to the industrial growth that has occurred over the past two decades. In addition to
impacting employees' performance, skill-related concerns can have a significant influence on economic policy and productivity
performance. Bennel and McGuinness (2009) determined this by a comprehensive investigation on the subject of 'evaluating the
influence of skill deficiencies on the productivity performance of high-tech companies in Northern Ireland'. The National
Association of Manufacturers (2009) analysis unveiled that over 80% of industries encountered a dearth of competent and qualified
labour. The report also noted that the current technologies and talents that were considered innovative will become outdated within
a timeframe of three to five years. Therefore, it is imperative and also a difficult task for employees to stay current with the skills
necessary to adapt to the ever-changing commercial and technology landscape. In a study titled "An investigation into skill gaps
in the software industry of Pakistan," Zareen Sharf and Dr. Wasim (2009) revealed that the crucial factor for organisational
performance is the alignment of individuals' qualifications with their respective job positions. Furthermore, research has
determined that a significant number of businesses frequently struggle to accurately identify and assign individuals to suitable
positions, a situation that might potentially result in the complete failure of projects. The source cited is the "Skills Gaps in the
World's IT Workforce" white paper published by the Centre for Strategy Research in February 2008. The CompTIA Research
Organisation and Centre for Strategy Research Inc. conducted an international research study to identify trends and gaps in IT skills,
explore issues related to recruiting and hiring, and investigate the current and potential growth of the IT market and the rising
demand for IT professionals. The study identified the primary factors that exerted the greatest influence on the worldwide IT
sector, as well as the elements that were projected to have an impact on the industry in 2008. The study clearly highlights the
significance of the collected information in addressing the shortage of IT skills among employers. It can serve as a valuable
benchmark for employers to assess the skills of their current and future employees, guide them in recruitment and hiring processes,
and inform policy-makers and educators about potential roles they can play in the industry. Additionally, it helps employees
understand the specific qualities and skills that employers are seeking. The future of business is threatened by the international
talent gap in career growth. In 2009, an assessment was conducted to determine the disparity in skills between students in school,
college graduates, and individuals in the corporate sector. The study was done based on input from HR specialists. The survey
revealed that a significant number of school learners and recent graduates had a deficiency in fundamental abilities required for
employment in the business sector.
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