Training and Development Competencies: A Comparative Study of Their Importance and Demonstration

Abstract

The study aims at assessing the importance of training and development competencies of training and development professionals and their demonstration of the same while performing their roles and responsibilities, as well as to identify the gaps between the importance and the demonstration. The study adopted the conceptual framework from the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) model, which was created by Arneson, Ruthwell and Naughton (2013). 248 training and development professionals were the sample of the study for the rating of importance and another 248 line professionals, who were familiar with the training and development professionals’ functioning, were the sample of the study for the demonstration rating. Based on the data collected from the sampled professionals and its analysis, the study concludes that overall, technology literacy, performance improvement, evaluating learning impact, managing learning programs, coaching, knowledge management and change management are the areas of competencies in which training and development professionals need to enhance their proficiency.