An analysis of it skills training and education in the surveying profession

Since the 1980s, Information Technology has made a substantial impact in the business world. Managers and professionals have had to come to terms with the redefined skills needs and demands engendered by the new technology. IT has been identified as a strategic weapon which can improve competitive advantage. To take full advantage of this requires strategic planning for the necessary integration of business and IT strategies. The `skills' factor is also significant. The growing importance of human resource management and development issues in organisations has led to a greater awareness that, to be successful, an IT strategy also requires relevant and well-directed strategic IT skills training and education provision.

The `surveying profession' (which in this thesis includes general practice and quantity surveying-based organisations) has undergone a number of major structural alterations, as a result of `forces for change', including external competition, technological change, changing client demands and internationalisation/globalisation. A vital theme running through these is the impact of IT itself, which has had reciprocal implications for IT skills training and education.

This thesis provides a new and up-to-date body of knowledge on IT skills training and education in the surveying profession. It analyses the nature and extent of strategic planning for IT, and IT training and education strategies; current and future IT skills training and education for professional staff, including the extent of users' knowledge, satisfaction, importance and ability levels with IT, and IT-related tasks; and the presence and nature of any skills `gap' or `mismatch'.

The thesis investigates an area in which little or no previous research has been undertaken. The literature review draws on theories and arguments involving strategic planning and human resource management issues for IT, in areas outside surveying.