training - introduction
Training and personal development is an important method for a business to improve the performance of employees.
Training starts with a strategy
It is important that a business provides training that is consistent with the business strategy. The main steps in developing a training strategy are to:
- Identify the skills and abilities needed by employees;
- Draw up an action plan to show how investment in training and development will help meet business goals and objectives;
- Implement the plan, monitoring progress and training effectiveness
Benefits of training to a business
The main benefits to a business of a well-trained workforce are:
- Better productivity (and, therefore, lower production / operating costs)
- Higher quality
- More flexibility - training helps employees develop a variety of skills. Multi-skilling is only possible if the workforce is well trained
- Less supervision - lower supervision and management costs if employees can get on with their jobs. This might also improve motivation - through greater empowerment
- More successful recruitment and employee retention - businesses with a good reputation for training are likely to find it easier to attract good quality staff - and then keep them
- Help in achieving change - businesses with strong training systems and culture find it easier to implement change programmes
What training cannot solve
it is tempting to think that training is the solution to many if not all business problems. However, there are some things that training can rarely solve: these include:
- Poor management (although management training might help!)
- Poor job design
- Ineffective or inefficient equipment, production organisation
- Recruitment
If training is so important, why do some businesses invest so little in it?
Ideally training should be seen as an investment in the future of the business. it takes time for the effects of training to impact business performance.
Some businesses are reluctant to spend on training because:
- They fear employees will be poached by competitors (who will then benefit from the training)
- A desire to minimise short-term costs
- They cannot make a justifiable investment case
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