The quality of managerial training in telecommunications: a comparison of the marketing and information systems managers' viewpoints

ABSTRACT

This paper compares the results of two studies - the first study targeted the marketing manager while the information systems (IS) managers were the focus of the second study. Both studies questioned the respondents about the quality of their training in thirty telecommunications issues. What was most surprising was the total dissatisfaction with the training in telecommunications voiced by both the marketing and IS managers. The marketing managers did not rate their training on even one issue as average or above. Only one issue, Local Area Networks (LAN), was rated as average or above average in the quality of their training by the IS managers. Training in the currently used applications was rated the highest while training in the advanced or emerging applications was rated the lowest. When these applications are used innovatively, an organization can capture a strategic advantage. Self-study, organizational programs, educational institutions and professional agencies were the primary sources of the training. Training programs provided by professional agencies were rated the highest in quality while the organizational in-house programs were rated the weakest.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.6 MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS

General Terms:
Documentation, Management

Keywords:
telecommunications, training