CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Skills management is the practice of understanding developing and deploying people and their skills Cascio (1992). A well implemented skills management should identify the skills that job roles require, the skills of individual employees and, any gap between the two contents. The skills involved can be described by the organization concerned or institution. They are usually defined in terms of a skills framework, a competency framework or skills matrix. This consists of a list of skills and a grading system with a definition of what it means to be at particular given skill. To be most useful, skills management needs to be conducted a san ongoing process, with individuals assessing and updating their record skill sets regularly Smilansky (2005). These updates should occur at least as frequently as employee regular lines manager reviews and certainly when their skill sets have charged. Skills management systems record the result of this process in analysis of the data.

In order to perform the functions of management and to assume multiple roles, managers must be skilled. Katz (1997) identified three managerial skills essential to successful management; technical human and conceptual. Technical skill involves process or technique knowledge and proficiency. Managers use the processes, techniques and tools of a specific area. Human skill involves the ability to interact effectively with people managers interact and cooperate with employees. Conceptual skill involves the function of idea. Managers understand abstract relationships develop ideas and solve problems creatively. Thus, technical skill deals with things, human skill concern people, and conceptual skill has to do with ideas.

Kartz further states that organization determined the relative importance of possessing technical, human and conceptual skills. Top level managers need conceptual skills in order to view the organization as a whole. Conceptual skills are used in planning and dealing with ideas and abstractions supervisors need technical skills to manage their area of specialty. All levels of management need human skills in order to interact and communicate with other people successfully.

As the pace of change accelerates and diverse technologies coverage new global industries are being created (for example; telecommunication). Technological change alters the fundamental structure of firms and cells for new organizational approaches and management of skills. According to Technological change alters the fundamental structure of firms and cells for new organizational approaches and management of skills. According to Purcell et al (2003) skills management provides a structured approach to developing individual and collective skills and gives a common vocabulary for discussing skills as well as the general benefits derived by employees. Three groups of employees receive specific benefit from skills management.

As a result of skills management, employee should be aware of the skills their job requires and -any skills gaps that they have. Depending on their employer; it may also result in a personal development plan (PDP) of training to bridge some or all of those skills gaps over a given period.