DEFINE TRAINING/EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT :
Training is defined by Wayne Cascio as “training consists of planed programs undertaken to improve employee knowledge, skills, attitude, and social behavior so that the performance of the organization improves considerably.”
Training is normally viewed as a short process. It is applied to technical staff, lower, middle, senior level management. When applied to lower and middle management staff it is called as training and for senior level it is called managerial development program/executive development program/development program.
Objectives/purpose/goals of training and development
The purpose of training and development can be explained as follows.
1. Improving quality of work force :-
Training and development help companies to improve the quality of work done by their employees. Training programs concentrate on specific areas. There by improving the quality of work in that area.
2. Enhance employee growth :-
Every employee who takes development program becomes better at his job. Training provides perfection and required practice, therefore employee’s area able to develop them professionally.
3. Prevents obsolescence :-
4. Assisting new comer :-
Training and development programs greatly help new employees to get accustomed to new methods of working, new technology, the work culture of the company etc.
5. Bridging the gap between planning and implementation :-
Plans made by companies expect people to achieve certain targets within certain time limit with certain quality for this employee performance has to be accurate and perfect. Training helps in achieving accuracy and perfection.
6. Health and safety measures :-
Training and development program clearly identifies and teaches employees about the different risk involved in their job, the different problems that can arise and how to prevent such problems. This helps to improve the health and safety measures in the company.
Methods of training operating personnel/factory workers
There are different methods of training for operating personnel (factory workers). Training these workers becomes important because they handle equipment worth crores of rupees. The different methods can be explained with the help of following diagram.
1. On the job training method :-
In this method workers who have to be trained are taken to the factory, divided into groups and one superior is allotted to every group. This superior or supervisor first demonstrates how the equipment must be handled, and then the worker is asked to repeat whatever he has observed in the presence of the supervisor. This method makes it easy for the employee to learn the details about specific equipment. Once the worker studies the first equipment thoroughly the supervisor moves on to the next equipment and so on.
2. Apprenticeship training :-
In this method both theory and practical session are conducted. The employee is paid a stipend until he completes training. The theory sessions give theoretical information about the plant layout, the different machines, their parts and safety measures etc. The practical sessions give practical training in handling the equipment. The apprentice may or may not be continued on the job after training.
3. Vestibule training :-
In this method of training an atmosphere which is very similar to the real job atmosphere is created. The surroundings, equipment, noise level will be similar to the real situation. When an employee is trained under such conditions he gets an idea about what the real job situation will be like. Similarly when he actually starts doing the job he will not feel out of place. This method is used to train pilots and astronauts. In some places graphics are also used to create the artificial surroundings. This method involves heavy investment.
4. Job rotation :-
In this method the person is transferred from one equipment to the other for a fixed amount of time until he is comfortable with all the equipments. At the end of the training the employee becomes comfortable with all the equipment. He is then assigned a specific task.
5. Classroom method :-
In this method the training is given in the classroom. Video, clippings, slides, charts, diagrams and artificial modules etc are used to give training.
On the job method refers to training given to personnel inside the company. There are different methods of on the job training.
1. Job rotation :-
This method enables the company to train managerial personnel in departmental work. They are taught everything about the department. Starting from the lowest level job in the department to the highest level job. This helps when the person takes over as a manager and is required to check whether his juniors are doing the job properly or not. Every minute detail is studied.
2. Planned progression :-
In this method juniors are assigned a certain job of their senior in addition to their own job. The method allows the employee to slowly learn the job of his senior so that when he is promoted to his senior job it becomes very easy for him to adjust to the new situation. It also provides a chance to learn higher level jobs.
3. Coaching and counseling :-
Coaching refers to actually teaching a job to a junior. The senior person who is the coach actually teaches his junior regarding how the work must be handled and how decisions must be taken, the different techniques that can be used on the job, how to handle pressure. There is active participation from the senior.Counseling refers to advising the junior employee as and when he faces problems. The counselor superior plays an advisory role and does not actively teach employees.
4. Under study :-
In this method of training a junior is deputed to work under a senior. He takes orders from the senior, observes the senior, attends meetings with him, learns about decision making and handling of day to day problems. The method is used when the senior is on the verge of retirement and the job will be taken over by the junior.
5. Junior board:
In this method a group of junior level managers are identified and they work together in a group called junior board. They function just like the board of directors. They identify certain problem, they have to study the problem and provide suggestions. This method improves team work and decision making ability. It gives an idea about the intensity of problem faced by the company. Only promising and capable junior level managers are selected for this method.
Off the job training method :-
Off the job training refers to method of training given outside the company. The different methods adopted here are
1. Classroom method :-
The classroom method is used when a group of managers have to be trained in theoretical aspects. The training involves using lectures, audio visuals, case study, role play method, group discussions etc. The method is interactive and provides very good results.
2. Simulation :-
Simulation involves creating atmosphere which is very similar to the original work environment. The method helps to train manager handling stress, taking immediate decisions, handling pressure on the jobs etc. An actual feel of the real job environment is given here.
3. Business games:
This method involves providing a market situation to the trainee manager and asking him to provide solutions. If there are many people to be trained they can be divided into groups and each group becomes a separate team and play against each other.
4. Committee :-
A committee refers to a group of people who are officially appointed to look into a problem and provide solution. Trainee managers are put in the committee to identify how they study a problem and what they learn from it.
5. Conference :-
Conferences are conducted by various companies to have elaborate discussions on specific topics. The company which organizes the conference invites trainee manager and calls for experts in different fields to give presentation or lecture. The trainee manager can ask their doubts to these experts and understand how problems can be solved on the job.
6. Readings:
This method involves encouraging the trainee manager to increase his reading related to his subject and then ask him to make a presentation on what he has learned. Information can be collected by trainee manager from books, magazines and internet etc.
7. In basket training:
In this method the training is given to the manager to handle files coming in and to finish his work and take decisions within a specified time limit. The trainee manager is taught how to prioritize his work, the activities which are important for his job and how to take decisions within limited time limit.
Training procedure/process of training :-
Every company has a specific training procedure, depending upon its requirements. A general training procedure is explained below along with diagram:
1. Determining training needs of employee :-
In the very 1st step of training procedure, the HR department, identifies the number of people required training, specific area in which they need training, the age group of employee, the level in organization etc. in some cases the employee may be totally new to the organization. Here the general introduction training is required. Some employees may have problems in specific areas; here the training must be specific. This entire information is collected by HR department.
2. Selecting target group :-
Based on information collected in step 1 the HR department divides employee into groups based on the following.
Age group
i. The area of training
ii. Level in the organization
iii. The intensity of training etc.
3. Preparing trainers :-
Once the employees have been divided into groups, the HR department arranges for trainers. Trainers can be in house trainers or specialized trainers from outside. The trainers are given details by HR department, like number of people in group, their age, their level in organization, the result desired at the end of training, the area of training, the number of days of training, the training budget, facilities available etc.
4. Preparing training packages :-
Based on the information provided by trainers, he prepares entire training schedule i.e. number of days, number of sessions each day, topics to be handled each day, depth of which the subject should be covered, the methodology for each session, the test to be given foe each session, handout/printed material to be given in each session.
5. Presentation :-
On the first day of training program the trainer introduces himself and specifies the need and objective of the program and then actually stars the program. The performance of each employee is tracked by the trained and necessary feedback is provided.
6. Performance :-
At the end of training program the participants reports back to their office or branches. They prepare report on the entire training program and what they have learned. They the start using whatever they have learned during their training. Their progress and performance is constantly tracked and suitable incentives are given if the participant is able to use whatever he has learned in training.
7. Follow up :-
Based on the em0ployee performance, after training, the HR department is able to identify what is exactly wrong with training program and suitable correction is made.
Evaluation of training program
Effectiveness of training programs are constantly evaluated by the company to find if the money, they have invested has been spend properly or not. Training programs can be evaluated by asking following questions.
a) Has change occurred after training?
b) Is the change due to training?
c) Is the change positive or negative?
d) Will the change continue with every training program?
A training program should give following resulting changes.
1. Reaction :-
Reaction refers to attitude of employee about the training, whether the employee considers training to be +ve or –ve one. If reaction are +ve then people have accepted the program and changes will be possible.
2. Learning :-
Another method of judging effectiveness is to identify levels of learning i.e. how much the people have learnt during the training. This can be found out by trainers mark sheet, the report submitted by the employee, and actual performance.
3. Behavior :-
The HR department needs to understand behavior of the employees, to understand the effectiveness of training. The behavioral change can be seen in how the person interacts with juniors, peer groups and seniors. They mark change in behavior and inform the HR department of the success of training program.
4. Result :-
Results provided by employee in monetary terms also determines effectiveness of training program i.e. employee success in handling the project, the group performance before and after training etc.
5. Effectiveness of training program must lead to
i. Increase in efficiency of worker
ii. Reduction in labour turnover
iii. Increase in discipline
iv. Reduction in wastage and therefore cost of production
v. Proper care of tools and equipments
vi. Employee development in career terms
vii. Overall efficiency in the company
Advantages of training programs/training
The following are the advantages of training program to the company
1. Increase in efficiency of worker :-
Training programs can help workers to increase their efficiency levels, improve quality and thereby increase sales for the company.
2. Reduced supervision :-
When workers have been formally trained they need not be supervised constantly. This reduces the work load on the supervisor and allows him to concentrate on other activities in the factory.
3. Reduction in wastage :-
The amount of material wasted by a trained worker is negligible as compared to the amount of material wasted by an untrained worker. Due to this the company is able to reduce its cost its cost of production.
4. Less turnover of labour :-
One of the advantages of the training program is that it increases the confidence of employees and provides them with better career opportunities. Due to this employee generally do not leave the company. There by reducing labour turnover.
5. Training helps new employees :-
A person, who is totally new to the company, has no idea about its working. Training helps him to understand what is required from him and helps him to adjust to the new environment.
6. Union management relations :-
When employees are trained and get better career opportunities. The union starts having a possible attitude about the management. They feel that the management is genuinely interested in workers development. This improves union management relations.
The following are the advantages of training program to the employee
1. Better career opportunities :-
Training programs provide the latest information, develops talent and due to this the employee is in a position to get better jobs in the same company or other companies.
2. High rewards :-
Effective training programs result in improved performance. When performance appraisal is done excellent performance from the employee is rewarded by giving him incentives and bonus.
3. Increased motivation :-
Employees who have been trained are generally more confident as compared to others. Since their efforts will be rewarded in future they are very much interested in improving their performance. Therefore we can say that their motivation levels are very high.
4. Group efforts :-
Training programs are not only technical programs but are also conducted in areas like conflict management, group dynamics(formal and informal groups), behavioral skills, stress management etc. this enables employees to put in group effort without facing problems that groups normally face. In other words training teaches people to work in a group.
5. Promotion :-
People who attend training programs learn from them and improve themselves are generally considered for promotion. Thus training increases chances of promotion.
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