Entry-Level Managerial Competences: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis Approach Vol. 1(1): September 2004 ©Tourism Educators Association of Malaysia 89 Entry-Level Managerial Competences: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis Approach Rahmat Hashim* and Salleh Mohd Radzi* * Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, MALAYSIA Presented at the Second National Educators Conference 2003 ABSTRACT Success or failure of tourism industry relies heavily on how the host nations control and manage the industry and its resources, and the implementation of alternative strategies. Business organisations have now turned their attention to the development of managerial competence as a mechanism to stay competitive in this new era of globalized business. Subsequently, today’s higher educational institutions experience more impacts than ever before in this rapidly changing business environment. This in turn, has serious implications for the way in which curriculum model is conceptualised and managed. This paper proposes that actual needs (based on the Malaysian context) should be investigated and referred to in curriculum development. These needs should be drawn from recruiters and other relevant bodies based in industry. Mailed questionnaire method was used in this study. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to identify the underlying dimensions of entry-level managerial competences. The study has revealed that the 80 competence statements were represented by eleven (11) factors/underlying dimensions (loading factor of greater than .40). The results revealed that personal (self) and communication (soft domain) as crucial. At the same time, the results revealed that technical (operation), and conceptual competences are equally crucial in developing future managers. The findings of this study can be used as a basis for developing relevant hotel management curricula to prepare graduates to meet the future needs of the industry and other interest groups. Malaysian managers and managers-to-be must have the right competences embedded in one’s own culture. Key Words: Hotel Management Education, Competences, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Industry Professionals INTRODUCTION The tourism industry emerged from the peripherals of Malaysian economic policy to the mainstream during the 1980’s. Since then it is acknowledged that the Malaysian tourism industry has been a major contributor to the Malaysian economy. At the same time, the exceptional growth in Malaysian tourism industry has become the key sector in generating revenues and career opportunities. Malaysian’s colleges and universities have in turn responded to the growing need for highly trained and qualified staff. While industrial growth generally is making great impact on the Malaysian economy, there has been considerable debate about the contribution of Malaysian higher education, including hotel management education (Zulaiha, 1994; New Straits Times, 1996a; and Cooke, 1995), inferring that graduates lack certain competences and that higher education providers have not kept up with the times. Educational institutions have been criticised for not developing appropriate competences required by industry, especially for the entry-level management position. Zulaiha (1994, p.2) identified that “there is growing discontent (and to certain degree impatience) with the quality of our graduates ⎯ their competences and capabilities.” Currently there are no specific guidelines for public colleges and universities or private colleges that wish to develop and offer a bachelor’s degree in hotel or hospitality management (currently, the National Accreditation Board is working on this issue). Historically speaking, the development Malaysian of hotel management education been greatly influence by programmes developed the West (i.e. the U.S.A., U.K. and Switzerland). Interested parties, including the government and the industry, have questioned the programme relevancy in its national or local context. Abdullah (1999) and Bajunid (1996) have also stressed the