Perceptions of Taiwan practitioners on expertise level and importance of workplace learning and performance (WLP) competencies (China)

This study aims to identify Taiwan Human Resource Development (HRD) practitioners' perceived importance of Workplace Learning and Performance (WLP) competencies at the present time and in the next five years. The purpose of this study included: (1) to analyze the perception of current expertise, current importance, and future importance of WLP competencies of HRD practitioners in Taiwan; (2) to identify differences in perceived importance of competencies in terms of different disciplines of Taiwan HRD practitioners; and (3) to identify the competencies most needed at present time and in the near future for HRD practitioners in Taiwan.; The ASTD Models for Workplace Learning & Performance (1999) conducted by Rothwell et al. were used as a conceptual framework for this study. The survey instrument was adapted from the original ASTD questionnaire. The questionnaire was translated, validated, pilot tested, re-modified, and then distributed to 1100 Taiwan HRD practitioners. 266 questionnaires returned (return rate: 24%) and 254 questionnaires were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, paired t-tests, Pearson's correlation, and linear regression.; The findings revealed that Taiwan HRD practitioners had the higher expertise in Communication competency, Interpersonal competency group, and the role of Intervention Implementor. For current and future importance of the WLP competencies, Taiwan HRD practitioners continually perceived Communication competency, interpersonal-related competencies and the role of Intervention Implementor to be most important for their current and future career.; The most-needed individual competency and competency group for now and for the future were successively found to be Electronic Performance Support Systems and the Technological competency group. The most-needed WLP role for now is the role of Evaluator while that for the future is the role of Intervention Selector.; The major differences in perceptions on expertise level and importance of WLP competencies among disciplines were found in the Training discipline when compared with all other disciplines.{09}Taiwan HRD practitioners in the HRM and Other disciplines had higher perceptions on current expertise level, current importance, and future importance of the WLP competencies than those in the Training discipline. Implications of this study and recommendations for future studies were made at the end.