Talent acquisition & transformation — A new paradigm

IT-BPM industry has received global recognition as the growth engine for India and the sectors it services across the world. It has established itself as a pioneer with the range of services it offers, the global customer base it serves and the numerous employment opportunities it provides to the workforce in India. As per NASSCOM's Strategic Review 2013, the industry aggregated revenues exceed $ 110 billion and employs more than 3 million people. The industry accounts for almost 25 percent of the total exports and 11 percent of the total service revenues. In order to drive the acquisition of right talent and to ensure the development of an employable workforce for the industry, IT-ITeS Sector Skills Council NASSCOM (SSC NASSCOM) has taken up an initiative to carry out an Occupational Analysis and Mapping of unique job roles in the industry. Subsequently a functional analysis exercise has helped develop Occupational Standards (OS) for all Entry Level job roles in the IT-BPM Industry. Developed in close association with key member companies in the IT-BPM industry; these standards in the long term will provide a foundation for ensuring quality in the talent pipeline. The initial step was the conduct of ‘Occupational Analysis & Mapping’, which entails an industry scan and a process of identifying different occupations in the various sub-sectors. It describes the main features and characteristics of an occupation, within the IT-BPM industry, specifically the IT Services sub-sector. It provides a high-level overview of an occupation in the sub-sector in terms of the types of job roles that exist, workforce characteristics, key talent trends, and a review of the available education and training. ‘Occupational Analysis’ therefore provides information on opportunities that exist for progression through a career in a specific occupation. The Occupational Analysis reports help define Occupational Standards for unique Entry level job roles /qualification packs. The emerging trends and applications in Computer Science with reference to employment opportunities shall be showcased at this conference with special focus on the IT Services sub-sector within the IT-BPM industry. The presentation will also encompass aspects of talent acquisition and transformation that will be positively impacted by standardization and globalization. Globalization as on ongoing trend will continue to change the nature of jobs, technology and the mobility of the workforce. It is therefore necessary that we have a proposition that has a recognizable and usable currency no matter where it is applied. SSC NASSCOM has made a remarkable endeavor to create a common skills currency between its members and for this industry sector, a recognizable means of global exchange of skills via unique job roles/qualification packs. From a workforce development perspective these new industry standards cover knowledge, competence and proficiency. These standards offer all stakeholders related to this industry sector the clarity regarding the knowledge, skills and competencies necessary to perform a function /job. By providing easily accessible standards it helps individuals, firms, training and official agencies understand what functions/jobs are required in order to perform in a particular occupation. The specifications articulated in job role /qualification pack also underpins behaviors that are essential if a job /function is to be carried out in a productive and creative way. In conclusion the occupational analysis & mapping has identified job related competency standards that would, set a benchmark and help develop a common-currency, that will make the workforce function more efficient, provide employment opportunities, increase productivity, create wealth and foster the security of our country and out planet at large.