Applying the Birkman Method to Support Engineering Workforce Development in the GCC Oil and Gas Sector:  A Case Study of Oman

Ismail M Al-Zadjali

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i03.80987

Applying the Birkman Method to Support Engineering Workforce Development in the GCC Oil and Gas Sector: A Case Study of Oman

Author(s)	Mr. Ismail M Al-Zadjali
Country	Oman
Abstract	The purpose of this article is to explore how the Birkman Method personality assessment fits the context of applying it in engineering workforce development in the oil and gas sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The region is already coming under a lot of pressure due to the workforce nationalization policies, shortage of skills and transitioning to the world of energy living in a Global Energy Economy (GEE), where much more needs to be done by the organizations in the industry with regard to talent management, with better evidence-based methods. With its unique multidimensional model, the Birkman Method integrates Behavioral Assessment, Motivational Needs Analysis, Occupational Interests Mapping and Stress Response Profiling into a single method. It explores various uses of the Birkman Method in the field of human resource management (HRM) including the selection of talent, optimal teams design, leadership development and improving safety culture in energy companies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The article draws on the most up-to-date figures from the oil & gas sector for the 2024-2025 period and covers the relevance of the oil & gas industry to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, the nationalization of labour in the oil & gas industry, and the workforce problems these nations are encountering in the engineering sector. As an elaborated case study, the Sultanate of Oman is studied in depth, including the highly-developed Omanization program, Petroleum Development Oman's (PDO) record-breaking $22.5 billion contribution in 2024, and Vision 2040 development priorities. Four areas of application of the Birkman Method in engineering are noted as improving team cooperation, engineering innovations, safety compliance and the development of engineering leaders, and the application of the psychometric instrument in each of the areas is discussed. In addition, suggestions for integrating the personality assessment in the workforce development of petroleum organizations in the GCC as well as the possible limitation of cultural adaptation and longitudinal outcome validity are highlighted.
Keywords	Birkman Method, engineering workforce development, GCC oil and gas, personality assessment, Omanization, talent management, team collaboration, safety culture, Vision 2040
Field	Sociology > Education
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 3, May-June 2026
Published On	2026-06-10
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i03.80987

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Applying the Birkman Method to Support Engineering Workforce Development in the GCC Oil and Gas Sector: A Case Study of Oman

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