The Philippines stands as the third largest destination geography for BPO services according to the study conducted in 2007 by the Everest Research Institute. With 80,000 software developers and USD$601 million in 2008 export revenues, the Philippines maintains a community of more than 300 software companies, 140 of which are members of the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA).

PSIA positions the software sector as an important contributor to the economic growth of the country and as a dominant player in the global economy. The PSIA proposes five priority action areas to grow the software services sector: grow the domestic demand for software, increase software exports, build the infrastructure for industry growth, improve intellectual property compliance, and develop skilled software professionals.

Amongst these priority action areas, skills development of IT professionals will truly help ensure the steady stream of high-quality talent supply. The Philippines, utilizing English as a primary medium of instruction in universities and colleges, provides the market with 40,000 English-proficient IT graduates per year. However, quantity should only place second to quality in terms of enhancing the country’s IT competency.

The companies’ level of competitiveness strongly rests in the quality of their software developers who writes excellent codes. However, the required competency level does not end in technical knowledge. Software developers need to hone their skills in abstract thinking, analytical reasoning, and attention to detail, mathematical problem solving, and process mapping. In addition, software developers must enhance their competencies in the English expression, e.g. English grammar and English reading comprehension and in service orientation, which cover behavioral demands such as reliability, responsiveness, empathy, communication, courtesy, and conflict management.

Recently, PSIA embarked on an Industry Benchmarking Study. Through the sponsorship of Assessment Analytics Inc (AAI), PSIA is giving software companies, preferably member PSIA companies, a chance to obtain Software Developer Competency Testing free using AAI’s assessment tools, which serve more than 5,000 corporate customers worldwide, including 100 companies in the Fortune 500 list. In conducting this research, AAI will help PSIA in accomplishing one primary objective: to improve the software company’s ability to hire and develop software developers with greater potential for success.

AAI will identify the attributes and characteristics of software developers who have shown the ability to consistently ensure customer satisfaction, and/or sales productivity. Using Brainbench/Previsor online assessment technologies, the Competency Profiling Study is designed to enhance predictability of performance by more clearly identifying critical skills and characteristics that differentiate performers from non-performers.

Companies that participate in the Benchmarking Study may qualify if they fit the following criteria:
•    They are willing to have software developers with 1-5 years experience take the online tests (testers will not need to identify themselves in the tests)
•    Software developers should be competent in any of the following: .Net, COBOL, Java, Oracle, and RPG
•    The company can arrange for a two-hour online test for their developers during schedules that are most convenient for the company and their testers

The findings of this study will be valuable inputs for competency identification, recruitment, training, and career development systems for the participating companies and for the entire industry in the long run.

The PSIA brings forward a number of initiatives that link up the academe with the industry to cultivate the country’s IT capabilities. On March 5, 2009, the PSIA presented to the Association of Local Colleges & Universities (ACLU) at the University of Makati some ideas to build IT competency. The primary thrust of ALCU is to improve the quality of instruction, research, and extension of its member schools and to provide value public tertiary education, especially to the poor and disadvantaged youth, and PSIA’s key points in their presentation include IT career advocacy, curriculum enhancement, and faculty enhancement.

Reaching out directly to the academe, PSIA proposes to give back to the ALCU schools by rallying volunteer software practitioners to teach relevant subject matters around the systems development life cycle to teachers and students. For its part, Headstrong Philippines has been reaching out to future IT professionals through Virlanie Foundation, by letting its would-be graduates get a glimpse of future career opportunities in the IT industry. As part of its CSR initiative, Headstrong invites Virlanie Foundation’s students to visit its facility as part of its tour-cum-career orientation. This CSR initiative is part of the company’s effort in engaging the youth to take a future career in the IT industry.

From March 30 to April 1, Headstrong will launch its first batch in a series of academically and socially inclined campaigns to engage future professionals to hone and utilize their skills in the software development industry. Furthermore, the company will reinforce its CSR activities designed to engage its employees with worthwhile causes and empower the disadvantaged sectors of society.

Aside from this CSR effort, Headstrong has been conducting boot camp training seminars supported by a government-funded train-for-work program. The company then recruits potential employees from the high-achievers of the program.

Retrofitting the capabilities of the country’s software industry rests on the organization’s capacity to build on the skills of its manpower. As people development should remain relevant in companies, they should not just concentrate on the talents within the firm, recruit students from top brass academic institutions, and instead give more focus on individuals who possess the drive to succeed, regardless of social disposition.

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