Analysing the Impact of Continuous Professional Development on Employee Performance Across Time: Evidence from the Petrochemical Sector

Abstract

This study explores the impact of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programs on employee performance over a three-year period in the petrochemical sector. By employing a mixed-methods approach, the research analyzes pre- and post-training assessment scores to evaluate the effectiveness of CPD initiatives. The study focuses on year-wise improvements and gender-specific differences, using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to  identify statistically significant changes in performance metrics. Data were collected from employees who participated in CPD programs from 2019 to 2021. The results indicate a substantial year- over-year improvement in employee performance, highlighting the increasing effectiveness  of CPD programs. Additionally, the analysis reveals no significant gender differences in performance improvement, suggesting that CPD programs are equally beneficial for all employees, regardless of gender. These findings underscore the critical role of CPD in fostering a skilled and adaptable workforce in the petrochemical industry. The study provides valuable insights for HR practitioners and policymakers to enhance the design and implementation of CPD programs, ensuring sustained competitive advantage and operational excellence. Future research should focus on identifying specific components of CPD that contribute most significantly to performance improvements and exploring the long-term impacts of these programs on organizational success.