Despite an adequate training budget, IT staff are not keeping skills current with emerging technologies...

When IT staff fail to keep skills current despite available training, the issue often lies in a lack of targeted, individualized development plans. The CGEIT Review Manual 8th Edition recommends creating personalized skills development plans to ensure that training aligns with both individual and organizational needs.

Extract from CGEIT Review Manual 8th Edition (Domain 2: IT Resources):"To address skill gaps, enterprises should establish individualized skills development plans that align employee training with emerging technologies and business needs. These plans ensure that training is relevant, targeted, and effectively utilized to maintain a skilled workforce." (Approximate reference: Domain 2, Section on Skills Development)

Establishing an agreed-upon skills development plan with each employee (option D) ensures that training is tailored to the specific technologies critical to the business and that employees are accountable for skill development.

Why not the other options?

A. Provide incentives for IT staff to attend outside conferences and training: Incentives may encourage participation but do not ensure that training addresses specific skill gaps.

B. Require human resources (HR) to recruit new talent using an established IT skills matrix: Recruiting is a last resort and does not address the current staff’s skill deficiencies.

C. Create a standard-setting center of excellence for IT: A center of excellence may set standards but does not directly address individual skill development.