Training and development strategies and the sustainability of records-keeping systems in international oil companies in Juba, South Sudan

The research aims to examine the relationship between training and development (T&D) strategies and sustainability of records-keeping systems in the international oil companies (IOCs), work in Juba, South Sudan, where the competencies of employees are examined as the mediator and organizational/contextual factors as moderators. Based on a descriptive-explanatory design, data on 175 records-related staff members in four IOCs were obtained using a validated questionnaire. The SPSS (v28) and Hayes (PROCESS Macro) analyses indicated that T&D strategies are highly significant and positive predictors of records system sustainability (β = 0.38, p < 0.01). This relationship is completely mediated by employee competencies, which proves training to have effects on sustainability only in case it is transformed into practical skills. The effect is considerably moderated by technological infrastructure, institutional capacity and regulatory support with better results in enabling environments. The results are empirical evidence of Human Capital Theory and the Resource-Based View both show that sustainability of records management in weak environments relies on the ability of the human and other resources that complement the human capacity. Practical implications involve the need to diversify training by not only workshops but also by applying digital and mentoring training, enhancing workforce competencies, and ensuring facilitative institutional and technological systems to facilitate the integrity of records in the key oil sector in South Sudan.