Chapter 20 : Training

Training - a process that involves increasing the knowledge and skills of a worker to
enable them to do their job more effectively

The importance of training:

● Involves increasing the knowledge and skills of workers
● Aids in helping to do their job more effectively
● Helps employees acquire new skills, improve their existing skills, perform
better, have enhanced productivity and be better leaders
● Helps improve employee motivation
● Helps new recruits to learn how to work safely and effectively in their new
environment
● Training is expensive, and due to this is discouraged at times
● This may result in lesser productivity, and lack of competitiveness or endanger
workers

Induction Training - the training given to new employees when they first start a job

Induction Training:
● When people join a new job, they are provided with induction training
● If firms fail to provide induction training, the recruits may feel tense and may
lead to poor productivity
● In worser cases, staff may leave due to lack of settlement

On the job training- training that takes place while doing the job
Mentoring- where people with lots of experience and knowledge advise and help
other people at work or young people preparing for work
Supervision- when you supervise someone or something
Job rotation - where employees alternate between different jobs during the course of
their employment

On the job training:

Watching another worker:
● By an existing member of staff
● Involves a new recruit watching and copying the actions of the experienced ,
competent and knowledgeable employee
● This is an effective method if the existing employee is a good and committed
teacher
● If not, it leads to poor quality training

Mentoring:
● Trainee is paired with an experienced member of staff for a given period
● The trainee is put on work to work on their own without direct supervision
● Employees alternate between different job during the course of their
employment but can consult the mentor for advice and guidance
● This is a method effective for training teachers

Job Rotation:
● Involves a new recruit spending a period of time in several different
departments at a business
● Effective method for employee to gain experience, skills and broad knowledge
of how the business operates
● Works in range of departments

Advantages of on the job training Disadvantages of on the job training

Output is being produced Time may be diverted instructing the

new recruit or the output may be lost if
workers make mistakes

Is relevant as trainees learn by doing the May be stressful for the worker as they
job need to work with others
 Cheaper May lead to frustrated staff as they are
unpaid trainers

Is quite easy to organise Could be a potential danger to others

when training on the job for some
professions.

Off- the job training- training that takes place away from the work area

Off- the job training:

● Training away from the working area

Advantages of off the job training Disadvantages of off the job training

Output is not affected if mistakes are No output as workers do not contribute

made to the work

Learning cannot be distracted by work Is expensive, if provided by specialists

Training could take place outside work Some aspects may remain untaught
hours if needed

Customers and others are not under any Takes time to organise
sort of risks

Training in health and safety:

● Governments aim to protect workers with legislation from the potential
dangers in some workplaces
● Governments force businesses to provide a safe and healthy environment

Employees will need to learn about:

● Usage and maintenance of safety equipment and protective clothing
● The importance of a hygienic environment
● The dangers of hazardous substances
● The protection needed from violence, bullying, threats and stress in the
workplace

● Legislation exists to protect people at work in many countries

 ● It may required for businesses to prepare a written statement of their general
policy on health and safety and ensure all employees are informed and aware
about its existence
● Businesses are required to provide training, instruction, supervision and
information to ensure the health and safety of workers.
● Many businesses follow codes of practice to meet health and safety standards
at work.
● Health and safety inspectors have rights to enter the premises of the business
to ensure that the health and safety measures are in place and being carried
out by businesses and employees

The benefits of training:

Productivity:
● Productivity increases as the training provides workers with the required
knowledge and skills
Keeping workers up to date:
● Workers may need training if there are changes that might affect their jobs
Some examples include:
● New technology
● New working practises
● New legislation
● New health and safety procedures
Improving labor flexibility:
● Some businesses train employees in a wide range of departments and jobs
● So, it makes them multi-skilled
● Therefore, they provide businesses with added flexibility
Improving job satisfaction and motivation:
● Worker have a better sense of security if they are trained to do their job
● Being unable to do well in their job, may lead to stress, anxiety, frustration and
dissatisfaction
● The business has invested money in their workers, and replacing them will
result in more expense
● It may aid in motivating staff
New jobs in the business:
● New jobs may open in the business due to expansion, new products or new
technology
● This may mean that existing staff may need retraining
Training for promotion:
 ● Training is required when employees are promoted
● This is because at each stage of promotion, the employee will need to possess
new skills and knowledge
● Helping them to successfully handle the different duties and responsibilities

Simulation - the activity of producing conditions similar to real ones, to test

something or the conditions are produced

The limitations of training:

High cost of training and other resources:

● Training can be extremely costly
● Businesses are required to pay training providers if they use external training
services
● If specialist training staff and equipment are needed, internal training could be
expensive too
Learning by doing:
● Workers may not start learning how to do the job until they arrive at their
workstations making this a limitation for training
● In some work environments, the stress and distractions cannot be easily
taught through stimulation

Loss of output:
● If workers are involved in off-the job training, they may not be producing
anything
● This may lead to lower output levels
● If workers are involved in on-the job training, there may still be loss of output
owing to mistakes made and slow work
● The time of those training may be lost if it takes them away from their normal
duties and responsibilities, having an effect on the production
Employees leaving:
● It may lead to frustration for businesses if the employee leaves and joins the
rival company after they invested in training them
● This leads to some businesses actually targeting workers that has already been
trained by others to avoid such costs
Large VS Small businesses:
Businesses of all sizes provide some sort of training. It is quite unreasonable or
unrealistic to expect a new recruit to work without any training. However, the
amount and quality of training differs with the firm size. It is argued that larger firms
provide better training as they have more resources. However, this may not always be
the case. Failure to provide training, may lead to chaos.