Requisite skills of entry-level programmers: An empirical study in Brunei Darussalam

Computing is a fast changing technology. As such, empirical studies are oft en conducted, particularly in the United States, to identify those critical skills that organizations foresee important for entry-level computer progr ammers. No such studies have ever been undertaken in Brunei Darussalam, a s mall 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 progra mmers, as required by the Brunei-based organizations. Moreover, efforts wer e directed to determine whether the skills of entry-level programmers varie d significantly based on organization size. The results suggest that techni cal skills are no longer the core skills sought by the participating organi zations. Communication skills appeared to be the top-most requirement, foll owed by skills in Database Management Systems (DBMS), application developme nt method, and tools. Lastly, the need for programming skill, particularly in the third generation languages, seem to be declining. This shift in skil l demand needs recognition from both academics and TT managers. These findi ngs are discussed, and some suggestions are offered.