Opportunities for Capitalizin&on the Software Development tndustry Growth through Appropriate Manpower Training

Abstract

Worldwide, software industry has witnessed unprecedented growth during the last decade and the trend is expected to remain so during the next few decades. Since manpower in Asia possess the key Ingrediente required for the software industry there was a significant shift of the industry from USA and Europe to Asia during the 90s.Based on the industry survey conducted in Sri Lanka, the main factors stifling the growth were identified as, the scarcity of suitably trained manpower and information Infrastructure facilities. However, Sri Lanka possesses a large pool of trainable educated youth and a privatied telecommunication sector, which can provide the necessary Infrastructure facilities in a short time. The education and training providers lag far behind meeting the manpower needs of the industry. Shortage of trainers is the main impediment for development of manpower. In the short term, India would be an ideal source of obtaining trainers. The article Growth prospecte for the software industry in Sri Lanka and an appropriate policy trame work' by the same authors discusses in greater detail the measures.to meet the manpower and other needs of the software industry in Sri Lanka.