What is Training and Development?
Training and Development is the continuous process of improving skills, gaining
knowledge, clarifying concepts and changing attitude through structured and planned
education by which the productivity and performance of the employees can be
enhanced. Training and Development emphasize on the improvement of the
performance of individuals as well as groups through a proper system within the
organization which focuses on the skills, methodology and content required to achieve
the objective. Good & efficient training of employees helps in their skills &
knowledge development, which eventually helps a company improve its productivity
leading to overall growth.
Training is about knowing where you are in the present and after some time where
will you reach with your abilities. By training, people can learn new information, new
methodology and refresh their existing knowledge and skills. Due to this there is much
improvement and adds up the effectiveness at work. The motive behind giving the
training is to create an impact that lasts beyond the end time of the training itself and
employee gets updated with the new phenomenon. Training can be offered as skill
development for individuals and groups.
Organizational Development is a process that “strives to build the capacity to achieve
and sustain a new desired state that benefits the organization or community and the
world around them.”
Training and Development Process:
Training and development is a continuous process as the skills, knowledge and quality
of work needs constant improvement. Since businesses are changing rapidly, it is
critical that companies focus on training their employees after constantly monitoring
them & developing their overall personality.
Steps for training and development processes are:
1. Determine the need of training and development for individuals or teams
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First of all the need has to be seen for training and development. it has to align with
the company's goals and objectives. If a company is trying to start a new department
or strengthen existing sales team in new products, then an appropriate training is
needed.
2. Establish specific objectives & goals which need to be achieved
The goals and objectives of the training and development have to be established.
Whether the goal is awareness about new products or even installation is required to
be learnt.
3. Select the methods of training
Next, methods have to be defined. The training can be done as:
a. Classroom Training
b. Online Self paced courses
c. Course with certification
d. Instructor led online training
4. Conduct and implement the programs for employees
After the plan and methods are finalized, the training and development programs have
to be executed where courses, instructions are taught to the employees, partners or
vendors.
5. Evaluate the output and performance post the training and development
sessions
Training and Development is incomplete without proper monitoring. Monitoring can
be done through evaluation of the instructor as well as attendees. Instructor evaluation
can be done through feedback or ratings but attendees can be evaluated through
internal or external certifications or scores.
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6. Keep monitoring and evaluating the performances and again see if more
training is required
Based on the evaluation results in the previous step, management needs to ascertain
that if the training and development program was sufficient for now or more training
and enablement would be required. Also, if future trainings are to be planned.
Importance of Training and Development:
For companies to keep improving, it is important for organizations to have continuous
training and development programs for their employees. Competition and the business
environment keep changing, and hence it is critical to keep learning and pick up new
skills. The importance of training and development is as follows:
1, Optimum utilization of resources
2. Development of skills like time management, leadership, team management etc.
3. To increase the performance, productivity and motivation
4. To imbibe the team spirit
5. for improvement of organization culture
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6. To improve quality
7. To increase profitability and bottom line by acquiring new skills
8. Improving brand image by having well trained employees
Relation and Difference between Training and Development
There is a relation between training and development, and there is clear difference
between the two based on goals to be achieved. Development is made to answer
the training problems:
TRAINING DEVELOPMENT
Training is meant for operatives Development is meant for executives
It is reactive process It is pro- active process
AIM: To develop additional skills AIM: To develop the total personality
It is short term process It is continuous process
OBJECTIVE: To meet the present need OBJECTIVE: To meet the future need
of an employee of an employee
Initiative is taken by the management Initiative is taken by an individual.
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Need for Training and Development:
Training and development of employees is a costly activity as it requires a lot quality
inputs from trainers as well as employees. But it is essential that the company revises
its goals and efficiencies with the changing environment. Here are a few critical
reasons why the company endorses training and development sessions.
1. Improvement: When management thinks that there is a need to improve the
performances of employees
2. Benchmarking: To set up the benchmark of improvement so far in the
performance improvement effort
3. Specific Role Requirement: To train about the specific job responsibility and
skills like communication management, team management etc.
4. Testing: To test the new methodology for increasing the productivity
Advantages of training and development:
Training and development has a cost attached to it. However, since it is beneficial for
companies in the long run, they ensure employees are trained regularly. Some
advantages are:
1. Helps employees develop new skills and increases their knowledge.
2. Improves efficiency and productivity of the individuals as well as the teams.
3. Proper training and development can remove bottle-necks in operations.
4. New & improved job positions can be created to make the organization leaner.
5. Keeps employees motivated and refreshes their goals, ambitions and contribution
levels.
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