The Need

Organizations invest substantial resources in employee training and professional development, yet many struggle to demonstrate a clear connection between training expenditures, workforce performance, and career advancement. Human resources teams often lack effective tools to identify specific skill gaps across employees and align those gaps with relevant educational opportunities. As the volume of available online and third-party training programs continues to grow, employers need a scalable solution that can prioritize workforce development investments and improve training return on investment.

The Technology

A software-based workforce development platform was designed at the OSU Fisher College of Business to identify employee skill gaps and recommend targeted training opportunities. Using organizational data, performance inputs, and workforce analytics, the system maps employee competencies to desired career progression pathways and connects users with relevant educational resources from a variety of training providers. The platform helps employers make more informed development decisions while creating a structured framework that links performance management, career growth, and workforce training initiatives.

Commercial Applications

• Career development and employee upskilling programs
• Workforce assessment, coaching, and career services organizations
• Enterprise human resource and talent development platforms
• Learning management systems (LMS) and workforce training providers

Benefits/Advantages

• Aligns training investments with documented workforce needs
• Provides personalized training recommendations
• Reduces administrative burden for HR teams
• Supports data-driven workforce development decisions