An AHP approach to industry-oriented management competence development in an institute of technology

This study proposes a framework based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). It explores the management competencies that industry employees in digital ages must possess and provides the best management curriculum alternatives based on a gap analysis of an institute of technology. A literature review and a Delphi survey were conducted to collect information on the current development of management competencies and first identify AHP factors. Through the AHP questionnaire, opinions of experts from industry and from institutes of technology were collected, and this study constructs a complete competence hierarchy and indicators. Conclusions were as follows: 1) the main professional management competence dimensions from the industry-perspective are core ability, professional ability and developing ability; 2) the competencies can be categorised into 3 dimensions, 14 sub-dimensions and 59 competence indicators; 3) considering the demands from industry, the core ability (42%) dimension is weighted the most. Developing these management abilities should also be seen as a graduation requirement in order to help students become successful in industry in the future.