05 Feb 2008
Training: General Concepts
Training and development are increasingly important aspects of human resource management due to their positive effect on both the employer and the employees.
As far as the employees are concerned, they will gain more motivation and commitment to their jobs as well as an enhanced level of performance. Thus, the training process aims at achieving more quality in the performence of the employees and a better standard of services provided by their company.
Training basic processes are: increasing, capturing, refining, sharing, and applying knowledge. It aims at enriching the individuals with knowledge pertaining to the nature of their work. Moreover, training is directed towards adjusting and boosting the employees' behavior and performance. Should training carry out this mission, there will be more improvement in the work field along with better productivity.
There is a widespread misconception that training is a synonym to teaching. However, a big difference lies between the two processes as follows:
Teaching is a process related to learning where the individual acquires knowledge from schools, universities, etc. whereas training is what an individual gains throughout his/her career life, be they skills or behavioral and technical knowledge.
The profit gained from training is not financial. It is, to the contrary, merely related to the human element where individuals are looked at as the most important assets to be invested. AS a result, the following objectioves willbe attained.
1. Enhancing the individual's performance and improving his/her abilities.
2. Achieving a high level of job satisfaction and sustaining positive attitude towards the work and the relationship among employees.
3. Providing trainees with up-to-date technical and scientific information.
4. Empowering the employees with self-learning skills
5. Encouraging the employees to join more training courses where their individual abilities and career development can be assessed.
6. Saving time, effort and money.
7. Ensuring a better level of service through following new technology.
Training does not happen randomly. It is a well planned process that undergoes various steps to achieve the desired results. In preparing to write training plan, it is important to outline key stages.
The key stages of the training plan, as mentioned in the book Managing Training, are:
(1) Identification of training needs
(2) Description of the required training programs
(3) Selection of the appropriate training methods to be used
(4) Selection and training of trainers
(5) Calculating costs and benefits of training
In addition to these important steps, the training plans should be implemented and the effectiveness of the training session evaluated.
According to Chris J.Nuttal , there are three types of training.
1. Induction training is the first type where an initial and introductory program is designed to ease new employees into an organization.The emphasis in this type of training is usually on rules and procedures, key personnel, terms and conditions
2. On-the-job training emphasizes on the immediate gain in the productivity for the company . It is carried out at the actual place of work where the trainees will be able to carry out their duties as they are training in the place of the work.
3. Out- the-job training is unlike the on-the-job training, itis carried out away from the actual workplace, e.g. college, training center, conference room. In this case, specialized instructors can be utilized, increasing by this the effectiveness of both the training itself and the results.
The following interesting statistics highlight the importance of training. According to surveys conducted by educational institutions, 85% is the percentage of the benefits the individual achieves at his working environment after being trained , as opposed to only 15% by those who never attended training courses.
In 2005, the expenditure on training courses in the United Sates of America amounted to $200 million which is equal to what is spent on the private and public educational sectors in the same year.
There have been many claims regarding the possibilities of performance enhancement training. The aim of such training for an individual is to complete a specific function or task with fewer errors and greater efficiency, resulting in a more positive outcome.
Out of its belief in the significance of training, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAGorg) has adopted the training policy where each one of its employees during his/her career life in the organization should undertake effective training courses that would enhance his/her performance in order to deliver his/her tasks more efficiently.
Shatha Attari
Trainer Officer
TAG-CONSULTANTS Regional
Reference
ChrisJ.Nuttal.(2003).Business:Standard Level