Validation of Training in Relation to Succession Planning: Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis Approach

This study examined the validity as well as reliability of a tool designed to examine training within the context of succession planning at public universities in Malaysia, using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) as well as Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) methods. Therefore, this study obtained fourteen training items from prior studies and different industries, and these were modified according to the higher education industry. The survey was distributed to 430 respondents, comprising administrators from 20 public universities. Note that EFA was conducted on the pilot study data (n = 102) to determine potential factor structures. Correspondingly, CFA utilised data from the field study (n = 328) to validate the construct measurement model. Here, the validation processes for both the EFA as well as CFA presented that only 13 modified items across 4 components remained for a better-fitting model: Training Effectiveness (TE), Training Needs (TN), Training Transfer (TT), as well as Trainee Characteristic (TC). All Composite Reliability (CR) measures concerning these four components surpassed the necessary threshold of 0.7. As these indices values lie in their corresponding cutoff ranges, the model satisfies the Goodness-of-Fit (GOF) criterion: Chisq/df of 1.969, RMSEA of 0.054, GFI of 0.953, CFI of 0.976, TLI of 0.968, and NFI of 0.952. The research indicates that the tool is both valid as well as reliable for evaluating the elements of the training model.