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The increase in the number of industry-sponsored credential programs raises many questions for career and technical education. This study investigated the perceived influence of industry-sponsored credentials on the recruitment process in the information technology (IT) field. Influence is examined from the perspective of Human Resource (HR) executives and their current IT employees to explore employer and employee differences in the role industry sponsored credentials and traditional education qualifications play in the recruiting process. Surveys were administered to HR executives and IT employees in a sample of large U.S. firms. Results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences between employers and IT employees regarding the perceived influence of industry-sponsored credentials on recruitment. However, significant differences were found in the perceived influence of such credentials on the recruitment process when comparing IT employees with credentials and those without. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for researchers, career and technology education policy makers, and educators.

Purpose: By adopting a multilevel approach, this paper aims to examine the relationships among employee creativity and creative personality, domain expertise (i.e. individual-level factors), non-controlling supervision style and organizational learning culture (i.e. team-level factors). It also investigates the cross-level interactions between individual differences and organizational context influencing employee creativity. Design/methodology/approach: Hierarchical linear modeling was performed to test the hypotheses using multisource data with 416 employees and their supervisors in 86 research and development teams. Findings: This paper found that domain expertise and non-controlling supervision style are positively associated with employee creativity. Also, a positive moderating role of non-controlling supervision style was found in explaining the relationship between domain expertise and employee creativity. However, no significant relationship was found between creative personality and employee creativity, and there was no moderating effect of organizational learning culture. The paper discusses the theoretical implications of these findings and provides practical suggestions based on the findings. Originality/value: This paper has begun to address the significant gap in the extant employee creativity literature and has departed from the common research practice of investigating creativity at a single level. It has expanded understanding of the antecedents of creativity with empirical evidence, as it revealed domain expertise and non-controlling supervision as influential factors. Further, domain expertise has generally positive effects on creative performance, whether non-controlling leadership is high or low. Additionally, this study brings an interesting insight in interpreting the contribution of organizational learning culture as measured by the Dimensions of Learning Organization Questionnaire to creativity and also affirms the importance of autonomy that increases intrinsic motivation and creativity. Another theoretical contribution of this study can be found from an intriguing contradiction in the literature that understands the role of expertise in creative performance. Moreover, the finding on non-controlling supervision supports the effectiveness of a freedom approach.

This research project examined the extent to which Career and Technical Education (CTE)-related programs use workforce needs assessment as a component of their evaluation activities. An employer perspective was used to develop a conceptual framework drawing on strategic human resource management theory. The extent and methods utilized for workforce needs assessment activities associated with a national CTE program were examined using data from the annual evaluation study of the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program funded by the National Science Foundation. The findings showed that only one-half of the ATE projects with a specific CTE occupational focus engaged in workforce needs assessment. The most frequently reported approach for workforce assessment was the use of secondary data from existing sources. The use of primary data collected from business and industry as well as other constituent groups was examined in more detail. The most frequently used primary methods for workforce needs assessment were advisory committees followed by gathering anecdotal information and the use of formal and structured survey questionnaires and interviews. Recommendations are made for the expanded use of workforce needs analysis in CTE policy, practice, and research.

This study examined the use of training program evaluation results in corporate universities. Specifically, the study attempted to determine which organizational members use evaluation data, and for what purposes, and identify the factors that are related to the use of evaluation results. The study was designed to test the appropriateness of the Cousins and Leithwood (1986) meta-analytic conceptual framework for evaluation utilization. A case study approach was used to collect qualitative data at four corporate universities in the United States. On-site interviews with key personnel and in-depth document review of applicable training program evaluation information were conducted. Results showed a high degree of consensus on evaluation uses and users. Seven of the twelve factors from the Cousins and Leithwood framework were found at all four sites to influence utilization. The findings indicate that factors identified as being influential to evaluation utilization related to implementation dominated over factors related to uses for decision/policy setting.

Although organizational learning theory and practice have been clarified by practitioners and scholars over the past several years, there is much to be explored regarding interactions between organizational learning culture and employee learning and performance outcomes. This study examined the relationship of organizational learning culture, job satisfaction, and organizational outcome variables with a sample of information technology (IT) employees in the United States. It found that learning organizational culture is associated with IT employee job satisfaction and motivation to transfer learning. Turnover intention was found to be negatively influenced by organizational learning culture and job satisfaction. Suggestions for future study of learning organizational culture in association with job satisfaction and performance-related outcomes are discussed.

Responses from 380 South Korean, Taiwanese, Thai, and Singaporean human resource managers in multinational and indigenous companies revealed significant differences between the two types in degree but not form or type of human resource development activity. U.S.-owned firms had higher activity levels. Strategic human resource orientation was related to type and level of activity. (Contains 51 references.) (SK)

Examines the role of human resource development (HRD), job satisfaction, and organizational commitment in voluntary turnover decisions. Compares a sample of managers from public service agencies who left their jobs to a sample of currently employed managers, discusses attitudes toward HRD, and recommends further research on the role of HRD in turnover decisions. (Author/LRW)

Using social exchange theory as a framework, Bartlett's study of 337 nurses found that perceived access to and support for training, learning motivation, and perceived training benefits are positively related to organizational commitment, especially affective commitment. Contains 67 references. Klein's reaction addresses conceptual and methodological issues. (Contains 20 references.) (SK)