The relationship between soft skills training and development, human resource outcome and firm performance

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of soft skills training and development on human resource outcome and firm performance. Data were collected from 199 manufacturers in Malaysia using questionnaire survey method and analysed using ‘structural equation modelling’ methodology. The results indicated that the relationship between soft skills training and development and firm performance is fully mediated by the human resource outcomes. This study highlights the indirect contribution of soft skills training and development on firm performance via its impacts on human resource outcome.