Requisite Skills of Entry-Level Programmers: An Empirical Study in Brunei Darussalam

Abstract

Computing is a fast changing technology. As such, empirical studies are often conducted, particularly in the United States, to identify those critical skills that organizations foresee important for entry-level computer programmers. No such studies have ever been undertaken in Brunei Darussalam, a small oil-rich kingdom located near Singapore and Malaysia—where information technology (IT) is gaining increased prominence at the national level. An attempt was thus made to identify the type of skills for entry-level programmers, as required by the Brunei-based organizations. Moreover, efforts were directed to determine whether the skills of entry-level programmers varied significantly based on organization size. The results suggest that technical skills are no longer the core skills sought by the participating organizations. Communication skills appeared to be the top-most requirement, followed by skills in Database Management Systems (DBMS), application development method, and tools. Lastly, the need for programming skill, particularly in the third generation languages, seem to be declining. This shift in skill demand needs recognition from both academics and IT managers. These findings are discussed, and some suggestions are offered.