The importance of Training and Development at the workplace

Training is an activity which happens at place of work whereby employee obtain a higher level of competences in a particular area. For some, training is seen as an investment, but some it is seen as an expense. With that being said, training only becomes a cost when there is not return on the invested, which is often due to ‘bad’ training or by having engaged employees. Many argue that an organization is made of people, therefore, any organization which does not invest in its human resource, is an organization which is dying.

Training is the key for corporate success. On the other hand, development at the work place is an activity which people endeavor for their own pursuit. In this article, you will find a brief introduction of training need analysis, some of the main benefits of training and the main differences between training and development at the work place.

1.Training need analysis

In order to minimize the cost and optimize the investment in training, the first thing that needs to be done is, to identify the optimum level of performance. Then, you need to identify the actual level of performance which is found through reviewing performances, by interviewing the employees themselves and their managers, by looking into the problematic areas and by also looking at the actual problems and issues which are related to the job. You do this to identify the training gap, which is the gap between the optimum level of performance and the actual level of performance.

2.Developing a training program: (4 points)

• Training Program objectives – SMART
• Training Program outcome (learning outcome) knowledge/skills/attitude
• Training content – session by session
• Entry level of participants

3.Implementation of Training

The implementation should be done with complete agreement with the production managers.

4.Evaluation of Training

This is an assessment to find out whether the learning objectives have been reached or otherwise.

‍Real benefits of training:

• Reduce scrap or spoiled work
• Increase greater versatility and adaptability
• Increases the need for supervision
• Decreases accidents at place of work
• Likely to increase job satisfaction
• Increases labor turn over
• Decreases absenteeism

Training:

• Planned by others
• Planned for others
• Specific activity

Development:

• Planned by self
• Planned for yourself
• Generic activity