What is Training or Development?

The words training and development are mostly used together in the corporate world and are
seen as activities focused on improving the knowledge, performance and productivity of the
employees. However, there is a distinct difference between their meanings and implications,
which are often overlooked by a majority of professionals.

How is Training Different from Development?

Training programs are organized by the organization to develop employees' knowledge and
skills as per their job requirements. On the other side, development is not directly related to job
requirement, rather it aims at the generic development of the individual employees for the long
run. Think of this way- training is mostly provided to teach new skills while development focuses
on improving existing skills.

Training vs Development: Diagrammatic Representation

Let us look at the image below to understand the difference between training and development.
Do Organizations Need Training vs Development?

With the ever-changing business environment, it is crucial that organizations pay equal attention
to both training and development to stay ahead of the competition.

Both training and development are required to work hand in hand for providing the right skills
and knowledge to employees and help them get the most of it for both organizations benefit as
well as their own progression. When an organization looks at employees' overall growth, apart
from the job-related training, it also helps in building a more efficient, motivated and productive
workforce.

Meaning of Training
Quality performance from the workforce is the need of every organization to stay in
business in today’s competitive environment. There is nothing wrong if the CEO of a
company after going through this chapter, you will expect quality work performance from his
employees, current and potential.

If workers and employees are good and not performing up to the mark, they need to be
trained to raise their level of skill, knowledge and versatility. The complexity of jobs
increases the need for training. The advancement in technology, wide use of
computerization and related sophistication has increased the need for training by manifold.

The learning of skills and increase in the level of understanding of the employees has
become imperative. Training widens the knowledge of the employee. He learns a lot
through training. Training polishes the employee’s insight.

He becomes sharper and updates his knowledge through training. Training provides
necessary instructions for performing the current job. It has a narrow aim of providing skills
to benefit the organization quickly. Training usually refers to the skill development of non-
supervisory personnel. Training applies to operative staff of the organization.

Edwin B Flippo has defined training as, “the act of increasing the knowledge and skill of an
employee for doing a particular job.” Thus, the training refers to the process of increasing
the knowledge, skill, attitude, abilities, aptitude and potentials of the employee to increase
and sharpen the job performance. The training ensures better performance of the job.
Training differs from education and development.

Education & Training

Training differs from education. Training is concerned with increase in knowledge, skill and
abilities of the employees in doing a particular job. It has a narrow aim limited to increase in
knowledge and skill. Education, on the other hand, has broader aim in sight and its purpose
is to develop the individual.

Education is concerned with enhancing general knowledge and motivating him to

understand the total environment. Education is imparted in schools, colleges and
universities. Training is vocational in orientation and is given at the factory or at workplace.
 Training Education Development
Training is a short term, task Education is a life time Development is a
oriented & targeted on achieving investment. It tends to be long-term investment
a change of attitude, skills & initiated by a person in the in human resources.
knowledge in specific area. It is area of his interest.
usually job related.
The difference between training and education becomes hair thin when in certain cases
training and education imparted at the same time. Employee development programs
conducted by certain organizations fall in the same category and are very wide in scope.

Training
Pursuit of ability
Improve Performance & Productivity
Method of Skill Development
Teaches certain Tasks
Practical Application
Short-term Process
Narrow Scope
Related to Employment
Prepares for Present Jobs
Education
Pursuit of Knowledge
Develops a sense of reasoning & Judgement
Method of gaining Knowledge
Teaches general Concepts
Theoretical Orientation
Long-term Process
Wide Scope
General Learning
Prepares for a Future Job

Training & Development

 Training refers to the instructions provided to increase the knowledge and skill for the
current job. Development on the other hand has broader scope and aims at developing
an individual in all respects.
 Training aims at achieving immediate gains for the organization while Development
aims at achieving long term needs of the organization.

Organization takes up executive development programs to enhance the capabilities,

potential and creative instinct of the managers enabling them to be more effective in
performing various managerial functions to achieve the predetermined goals.
The development programs include a course in management information systems that help
the organization to develop into efficient one in the long run. The development programs are
meant for executives and supervisory staff only.
Training on the other hand is meant for both. For instance, a marketing executive is trained
to use the programming language. Lotus 1, 2, 3 to have a grip over marketing budget is a
training aiming towards learning skills of programming.
A closely knit training and development program along with other human resource strategy
is a must for effective and efficient operation.