BBA 229 Training and Development Lecture 2 Strategic Training S. Chan Department of Business Administration charmaine@chuhai.edu.hk http://home.chuhai.hk/~charmaine

HR Department and Training HR: to improve the organization’s effectiveness by providing employees with KSAs which will ultimately enhance employees’ current or future job performance. Training strategies should meet the needs of organization while also responding to the needs of individual employees. Therefore should align training activities with company’s strategic plan.

The Evolution of Training’s Role Training’s role has to evolve from program focus to a broader focus: learning, creating and sharing knowledge Traditional approach: -Training is seen as a series of programs or events that employees attend. -Provides no information that would help employees understand the relationship between the training content and individual performance or development objectives or business goals. -A single training event or program is not likely to give a company a competitive advantage because explicit knowledge is well-known and programs designed to teach it can be easily developed and imitated. The emphasis on learning has several implications.

The Evolution of Training’s Role (2) Learning: the acquisition of knowledge by individual employees or groups of employees who are willing to apply that knowledge in their jobs in making decisions and accomplishing tasks for the company. Knowledge: what individuals/teams of employees know or know how to do (human and social knowledge) as well as company rules, processes, tools, and routines (structured knowledge). Can be tactics or explicit.     

The Evolution of Training’s Role (3) The emphasis on learning these implications Learning has to be related to helping employees’ performances improve and company achieves its business goals. Tactic knowledge is difficult to acquire, companies need to support informal learning that occurs through mentoring and job experience. Learning not only has to be supported by physical and technical resources, but also psychologically. Managers need to concern employees interests and career goals to help them find suitable development activities that will prepare them to be successful in the position

The Strategic Training and Development Process:

The Strategic Training and Development Process (1) Step one: Identify company’s business strategy: Mission and vision-company’s values, culture etc SWOT analysis to identify company’s operating environment 7

The Strategic Training and Development Process (2) Step two: Identify strategic training and development initiatives that support the strategy: Strategic Training Development Initiatives Implications Diversify the Learning Portfolio Use new technology for training Facilitate informal learning Provide more personalized learning opportunities Expand Who is Trained Train customers, suppliers, and employees Offer more learning opportunities for non-managerial employees Accelerate the Pace of Employee Learning Quickly identify needs and provide a high-quality learning solution Reduce the time to develop training programs Facilitate access to learning resources on an as-needed basis

The Strategic Training and Development Process (2) Step two: Identify strategic training and development initiatives that support the strategy: Strategic Training and Development Initiatives Implications Capture and Share Knowledge Capture insight and information from knowledgeable employees Logically organize and store information Provide methods to make information available Align Training and Development with the Company’s Strategic Direction Identify needed knowledge, skills, abilities, or competencies Ensure that current training and development programs support the company’s strategic needs

The Strategic Training and Development Process (2) Step two: Identify strategic training and development initiatives that support the strategy: Strategic Training and Development Initiatives Implications Ensure That the Work Environment Supports Learning and Transfer of Training Remove constraints on learning Dedicate physical space to encourage teamwork, collaboration, creativity, and knowledge sharing Ensure that employees understand the importance of learning Ensure that managers and peers are supportive of training, development, and learning

The Strategic Training and Development Process (2) Step two: Identify strategic training and development initiatives that support the strategy: Strategic Training and Development Initiatives Implications Improve Customer Service Ensure that employees have product and service knowledge Ensure that employees have skills needed to interact with customers Ensure that employees understand their roles and decision-making authority Provide Development Opportunities and Communicate to Employees Ensure that employees have opportunities to develop Ensure that employees understand career opportunities and personal growth opportunities Ensure that training and development addresses employees’ needs in current job as well as growth opportunities

The Strategic Training and Development Process (3) Step Three: Translating these strategic training and development initiatives into concrete training and development activities: 1.Developing initiatives related to use of new technology in training 2.Increasing access to training programs for certain groups of employees 3.Reducing development time, and developing new or expanded course offerings

The Strategic Training and Development Process (4) Step Four: Identifying measures or metrics (1) trainees’ satisfaction with the training program; (2) whether the trainees’ knowledge, skill, ability, or attitudes changed; (3) whether the program resulted in business-related outcomes for the company.

Organizational Characteristics that Influence Training Employees’ Work Roles: need multi-tasking or cross training—encourage skill-based pay systems Managers’ Work Roles. i.e. line, middle or senior manager; plan, organize, lead, control Top Management Support The degree of integration of business units Global business Business Conditions : merger & acquisition; recession/booming; PLC of company, etc.

HR Planning Influence on Training allows the company to anticipate the movement of human resources in the company can help identify where employees with certain types of skills are needed in the company Training can be used to prepare employees for: increased responsibilities in their current job promotions, lateral moves, transfers downward job opportunities that are predicted by the human resource plan

Questions to Assess Training Providers What is the trainer’s background (education, experience, etc.)? Has the trainer ever provided these particular training programs or services before? Has the training been evaluated? If so, what levels of outcomes were evaluated and what have been the results? Can the trainer give you the names of people in these companies who could speak knowledgeably about the trainer’s products and services?

Questions to Assess Training Providers continued – slide 2 Can the trainer give you names of and permission to contact the following people? Trainees who received the training The person who was the trainer’s primary contact in the client organization The person who monitored or coordinated the training How does the trainer go about developing a program, delivering training, or providing a training service? Can the trainer provide examples or an outline of his approach or process? Will this fit your organization’s culture and budget?

Questions to Assess Training Providers continued – slide 3 If the training is already developed, can the trainer show you materials, such as handouts, exercises, and videos? If these materials are not specific to your organization, how will the trainer alter them to make them appropriate for your situation?