International Technology Adoption & Workforce Issues Study - Thailand Summary

International Technology Adoption & Workforce Issues Study

Summary for Thailand

About this ResearchCompTIA’s International Technology Adoption and Workforce Issues study was conducted to collect and share information on technology adoption and workforce trends across several countries. The objectives of this research include: • Explore business and information technology (IT) priorities among organizations• Examine the usage of key technologies/solutions and IT services such as security and cloud computing• Identify which IT skills are most important to employers and if there are any skills gap issues or staffing concerns• Evaluate professional development practices such as training and certification The data for this study was collected via a quantitative online survey conducted February 22 to March 23, 2013 among 1,256 IT and business executives directly involved in setting or executing information technology policies and processes within their organizations. The 10 countries covered in this study include: Brazil (n=125); Canada (n=125); France (n=125); Germany (n=131)); India (n=125); Japan (n=125); Mexico (n=125); Middle East Subset (Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates) (n=125); Thailand (n=125); United Kingdom (n=125)

Surveys were localized and translated to allow respondents to participate in their native language. Additionally, precautions were taken to minimize misinterpretations of questions. However, research has shown, cultural differences exist and can affect responses to certain question types, such as 5-point satisfaction rating questions. Viewers of this report should keep that in mind when comparing results across countries.

The margin of sampling error at 95% confidence for aggregate results is +/- 2.8 percentage points. Sampling error is larger for subgroups of the data, such as individual countries where it is +/- 8.9 percentage points. As with any survey, sampling error is only one source of possible error. While non-sampling error cannot be accurately calculated, precautionary steps were taken in all phases of the survey design, collection and processing of the data to minimize its influence. Note: because data collection occurred via an online survey, in countries where Internet penetration is lower among businesses, the non-sampling error could be higher. CompTIA is responsible for all content contained in this series. Any questions regarding the study should be directed to CompTIA Market Research staff at [email protected]. CompTIA is a member of the Marketing Research Association (MRA) and adheres to the MRA’s Code of Market Research Ethics and Standards.

Key IT Priorities for Thai Businesses:1. Data storage/back-up2. Disaster recovery/business continuity3. IT security4. Network infrastructure5. Updating aging computers/software

Key Summary Points: ThailandKey Stats for Thailand

$10,000 GDP per capita (PPP) | world rank: 113th

5.88% GDP growth forecast for 2013

67% % of Thai executives expecting 2013 business conditions to be better than 2012

39.77m Total workforce

52% % of workforce employed in the services sector

0.387m Estimate of IT workforce* in core IT occupations

48% % of Thai executives expecting to increase IT staff headcount at their business in 2013

17.483m Internet users | world rank: 23rd

77.61m Mobile phone users | world rank: 18th

78% NET % of Thai executives indicating IT is important to the success of their business

6.2% Planned increase in IT spending in 2013 (YOY)

Key Strategic Priorities for Thai Businesses:1. Reduce costs/overhead2. Reach new customers3. Improve staff productivity/capabilities

Cybersecurity:76% of Thai executives believe the cybersecurity threat level is increasing. Additionally, 77% of Thai executives believe human error is a growing factor in security security incidents: Top human error related factors include:1. Increased use of social media by staff2. Lack of security expertise with networks/servers IT Skills Gaps:68% of Thai executives indicate at least some degree of gaps in IT skills at their business exists. For 40%, the reported skills gaps are small, while for 28% the gaps are more extensive. Top negative effects of IT skills gaps at Thai businesses: 1. Security / defending against malware, hacking, etc.2. Ineffective innovation and new product development

IT Training and Certification:97% of IT staff at Thai businesses engaged in some type of IT training during the past 12 months.1. 84% of Thai executives believe IT certifications will increase in

importance over the next two years; 13% believe IT certifications’ importance will remain constant

2. 85% of Thai executives believe it’s important to test after training to confirm knowledge gains

Sources used for above stats: CompTIA, IMF, CIA World Factbook, IDC

*See appendix for definition of core IT occupations

Detailed Findings: Business and Technology Issues

Strategic Priorities Include Tech Component

Base: 1,244 business and IT executives from Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Middle East, Thailand and the UK

Source: CompTIA International Technology Adoption and Workforce Issues study

20%

76%

21%

78%

OverallThailand

Top Strategic Priorities Among Thai Businesses for 2013

NET Unimportant

NET Important

Neutral

1. Reduce costs/overhead

2. Reach new customers

3. Improve staff productivity/capabilities

4. Improve use of data analytics to make

better business decisions

5. Innovate more effectively

67% of Thai executives in this CompTIA survey say business conditions are improving and expect 2013 to be better than 2012.

89% expect to increase their expenditure on IT products and services over the next 12 months.

Importance of Technology to Thai Business Success Trends Upwards

Many Businesses Seek to Improve Their Use of IT

Not at all close

Not that close

Moderately close

Very close

Exactly where_x000d_ want to be

0%

7%

13%

47%

33%

Degree to Which Thai Businesses are “Where They Want to Be” in

Technology Utilization1. Data storage/back-up

2. Disaster recovery/business continuity

3. IT security

4. Network infrastructure

5. Updating aging computers/software

6. Mobility related initiatives

7. Web/online presence/e-commerce

8. Collaboration

9. Automating business processes through technology

Top Technology Priorities Over Next 12 Months for Thai Businesses

Base: 125 Thai business and IT executivesSource: CompTIA International Technology Adoption and Workforce Issues study

More than Half of Thai Businesses have Adopted Cloud Computing to Some Degree

22% 21%

39%

17%

26%

17%

33%

24%

OverallThailand

Key Hurdles to Cloud Adoption for Thai Businesses

Cloud Computing Adoption Stage

Full use stage

Experi-mentation

stage

Evalu- ation or Investi-gation stage

Basic aware-

ness stage

49% Security or data loss concerns

47% Challenges in developing staff expertise/ experience with cloud applications/solutions

40% Slow/unreliable internet access

34% Unclear/costly government regulation or compliance related to using the cloud

31% Difficulty in integrating or migrating legacy applications to the cloud

30% Lack of local cloud service providers

26% Insufficient/unclear ROI

25% Cloud services still unproven/untestedBase: 1,252 business and IT executives from Brazil, Canada, France,

Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Middle East, Thailand and the UKSource: CompTIA International Technology Adoption and Workforce Issues study

Cybersecurity Risks a Growing Concern

Decreasing significantly

Decreasing moderately

No change

Increasing moderately

Increasing significantly

1%

2%

27%

44%

26%

0%

2%

22%

37% 53%

ThailandOverall

Overall, 76% of Thai Businesses Believe the Security Threat Level

has Increased during Past Two Years1 Rise of social networking

2 Greater interconnectivity of devices, systems, users

3 Volume of security threats exceeding capacity to thwart them

4 Sophistication of security threats exceeding IT staff's expertise to thwart them

5 Greater availability of easy-to-use hacking tools, allowing more individuals to engage in hacking

Top Factors Cited by Thai Businesses for Increasing Security Risks



39%

Human Error Increasingly a Security Risk Factor

23%

77%

NET increase in human error as a security risk factor

NET no change or decrease in human error as a security factor

Top Drivers of Human Error as an Rising Security Risk Factor

Assessment of Human Error as a Security Risk Factor

1. Increased use of social media by staff

2. Lack of security expertise with networks, servers and other infrastructure

3. General negligence / carelessness towards security

4. Lack of security expertise with websites and applications

5. Failure of end-users to follow security procedures and policies

6. Inadequate resources - not enough IT staff time to manage security threats


Detailed Findings: IT Training and Certification Issues

1 in 2 Thai Businesses Plan to Hire IT Staff in 2013; Most Expect Challenges in Finding Workers

Decrease in IT staff

No_x000d_ change

Increase in IT staff

5%

56%

39%

4%

48% 48%Overall

Thailand

40%

60%

NET concerned about IT labor quantity or quality

NET not that concerned about IT labor quantity or quality

Concern Over Ability to Hire IT Staff2013 Hiring Intent for IT Staff



Many Businesses Seek Improvement on the IT Skills Front

Not at all close

Not that close

Moderately close

Very close

Exactly where_x000d_ want to be

0%

10%

18%

40%

32%

Assessment of how Close Thai Businesses are to Where They Want to be with the IT Skills of

Their IT Staff 52% Security / defending against malware, hacking, etc.

52% Ineffective innovation/new product development

51% Poor customer service/customer engagement

43% Speed to market with new products or services

31% Inability to keep up with competition

Top Negative Impacts of IT Skills Gaps


IT Skills Rating Among Thai Businesses

1. Teamwork

2. Project management

3. Motivation and initiative

4. Analytical skills

5. Strong work ethic

6. Customer service

7. Flexibility and adaptability

8. Verbal and written communication skills

9. Innovation / Creative problem solving

Top Rated “Soft” IT Skills1. Networks / Infrastructure

2. Database / Information management

3. Server / data center management

4. Storage / data back-up

5. Security / Cybersecurity

6. Printers, copiers, multifunction devices

7. Enterprise resource planning (ERP)

8. Help Desk / IT support

9. Data analytics / Business intelligence

10. Mobile phones / smartphones

Top Rated IT Skills in Terms of the Importance of Maintaining a High Skill Level Among IT staff

Keep in mind, many emerging technologies, such as cloud or mobility, are important to businesses, but it may not yet be the highest priority to ensure a high level of IT staff expertise. As businesses move along the adoption curve and engage in more advanced uses of cloud and mobility, staff expertise in those areas increases. Additionally, in some areas such as security, businesses may rely on outside experts for guidance, so building internal skills could be a lower priority.


Types of Training/Education Utilized by IT Staff in Past 12 Months

No training or education

Some other type of training

Webinars / Online presentation_x000d_ from an instructor or expert

Reading industry news, technical journals, etc.

E-learning / Online self-directed training

Additional college coursework

Attending industry conferences, workshops, etc.

Training course with an instructor /_x000d_ Classroom instruction

11%

8%

30%

24%

40%

23%

38%

45%

3%

22%

45%

37%

56%

38%

43%

48%

ThailandOverall



Policy Towards the Use of IT Certifications

No formal or informal position_x000d_ towards the use of IT certifications

Informal – not required,_x000d_ but valued and encouraged

Formal – IT certifications_x000d_ required for certain IT staff

21%

37%

34%

24%

40%

24%

ThailandOverall



Majority of Thai Businesses Expect IT Certifications to Increase in Importance

Significant Increase in Importance

Increase in Importance

NET Decrease

NET Increase in Importance

No Change

85% “It’s important to test after training to confirm knowledge gains”

75% “Teams of staff with IT certifications benefit from having a common foundation of knowledge”

66% “Staff with IT certifications have proven expertise”

60% “Staff with IT certifications perform at a higher level than non-certified IT staff”

NET Agreement (agree + strongly agree) to Statements

Expectations for Change in Importance of IT Certifications

Over Next Two Years


13%

56%

0.28

Thai Businesses are Much More Likely to Agree to Statements About IT Certifications Than Disagree

The organization is more secure from malware and hackers due to staff with IT certifications

Staff holding IT certifications are_x000d_ more valuable to the organization

Retention is higher among staff with IT certifications than non-certified staff

Staff with IT certifications perform at a_x000d_ higher level than non-certified staff

Staff with IT certifications have proven expertise

Teams of staff with IT certifications benefit from having a common foundation of knowledge

It’s important to test after training_x000d_ to confirm knowledge gains

7%

14%

8%

9%

9%

2%

6%

35%

29%

31%

29%

24%

21%

9%

55%

56%

59%

60%

66%

75%

85%

NET Disagree Neutral NET Agree


Appendix

Defining Core IT Occupations

• Computer Support Specialists• Software Developers, Applications• Computer Systems Analysts• Software Developers, Systems Software• Network and Computer Systems Administrators• Computer Programmers• Computer and Information Systems Managers• Information Security Analysts, Web Dev., and Computer Network Architects• Computer Occupations, All Other• Database Administrators• Computer Hardware Engineers• Computer and Information Research Scientists• Computer Support Specialists

For the purposes of this study, core IT occupations include positions related to the list below. In this study, certain telecommunications occupations were excluded, such as positions responsible for installing or maintaining cellular towers. Additionally, this study excludes ‘knowledge worker’ type positions, such as technical writer, graphic designer or business analyst.

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