A project report on training and development - Document Transcript

1. Projectsformba.blogspot.comNATURE OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENTIn simple terms, training and development refers to the imparting of specificskills, abilities and knowledge to an employee. A formal definition of training &development is it is any attempt to improve current or future employeeperformance by increasing an employees ability to perform through learning,usually by changing the employees attitude or increasing his or her skills andknowledge. The need for training & development is determined by theemployees performance deficiency, computed as follows:Training & Development need = Standard performance Actual performance.We can make a distinction among training, education and development. Suchdistinction enables us to acquire a better perspective about the meaning of theterms. Training, as was stated earlier, refers to the process of imparting specificskills. Education, on the other hand, is confined to theoretical learning inclassrooms. Table 1. Training and Education Differentiated Training EducationApplication Theoretical OrientationJob Experience Classroom LearningSpecific Tasks General ConceptsNarrow / Perspective Broad Perspective Training refers to the process of imparting specific skills. Development refers to the learning opportunities designed to help employees grow. Education is theoretical learning in classroom.Though training and education differ in nature and orientation, they arecomplementary. An employee, for example, who undergoes training is presumedto have had some formal education. Furthermore, no training programme iscomplete without an element of education. In fact, the distinction betweentraining and education is getting increasingly blurred nowadays. As more andmore employees are called upon to exercise judgments and to choose alternativesolutions to the job problems, training programmes seek to broaden and developthe individual through education. For instance, employees in well-paid jobsand/or employees in the service industry may be required to make independentdecision regarding there work and their relationship with clients. Hence,organization must consider elements of both education and training whileplanning there training programmes.Development refers to those learning opportunities designed to help employeesgrow. Development is not primarily skill-oriented. Instead, it provides generalknowledge and attitudes which will be helpful to employees in higher positions.Projectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.comEfforts towards development often depend on personal drive and ambition.Development activities, such as those supplied by management developmentalprogrammes, are generally voluntary.To bring the distinction among training, education and development into sharpfocus, it may be stated that training is offered to operatives, whereasdevelopmental programmes are meant for employees in higher positions.Education however is common to all the employees, there gradesnotwithstanding.AIMS/OBJECTIVES OF TRAINING & DEVELOPMENTThe fundamental aim of training is to help the organization achieve its purpose byadding value to its key resource the people it employs. Training meansinvesting in the people to enable them to perform better and to empower them tomake the best use of their natural abilities. The particular objectives of trainingare to: Develop the competences of employees and improve their performance; Help people to grow within the organization in order that, as far as possible, its future needs for human resource can be met from within; Reduce the learning time for employees starting in new jobs on appointment, transfers or promotion, and ensure that they become fully competent as quickly and economically as possible.INPUTS IN TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENTSAny training and development programme must contain inputs which enable theparticipants to gain skills, learn theoretical concepts and help acquire vision tolook into distant future. In addition to these, there is a need to impart ethicalorientation, emphasize on attitudinal changes and stress upon decision-makingand problem-solving abilities.SkillsTraining, as was stated earlier, is imparting skills to employees. A worker needsskills to operate machines, and use other equipments with least damage orscrap. This is a basic skill without which the operator will not be able to function.There is also the need for motor skills. Motor skills refer to performance ofspecific physical activities. These skills involve training to move various parts ofones body in response to certain external and internal stimuli. Common motorskills include walking, riding a bicycle, tying a shoelace, throwing a ball anddriving a car. Motor skills are needed for all employees from the clerk to thegeneral manager. Employees, particularly supervisors and executives, needinterpersonal skills popular known as the people skills. Interpersonal skills areneeded to understand one self and others better, and act accordingly. Examplesof interpersonal skills include listening, persuading, and showing anunderstanding of others feelings.Projectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.comEducationThe purpose of education is to teach theoretical concepts and develop a sense ofreasoning and judgement. That any training and development programme mustcontain an element of education is well understood by HR specialist. Any suchprogramme has university professors as resource persons to enlightenparticipants about theoretical knowledge of the topic proposed to be discussed.In fact organizations depute or encourage employees to do courses on a parttime basis. Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) are known to attend refreshercourses conducted by business schools. Education is important for managersand executives than for lower-cadre workers.DevelopmentAnother component of a training and development is development which is lessskill oriented but stressed on knowledge. Knowledge about businessenvironment, management principles and techniques, human relations, specificindustry analysis and the like is useful for better management of the company.EthicsThere is need for imparting greater ethical orientation to a training anddevelopment programme. There is no denial of the fact that ethics are largelyignored in businesses. Unethical practices abound in marketing, finance andproduction function in an organization. They are less see and talked about in thepersonnel function. If the production, finance and marketing personnel indulge inunethical practices the fault rests on the HR manager. It is his/her duty toenlighten all the employees in the organization about the need of ethicalbehavior.Exhibit # 1 White Collar CrimesThe findings of the KPMGs fraud survey for 1998, confirm the prevalence ofwhite collar crimes in corporate India. The survey has pegged the loss due todelinquencies at Rs.200 crores but KPMG feels that it is only the tip of theiceberg. According to the study, 66% of the respondents feel that the frauds willincrease.Respondents have cited kickbacks and expenses accounts as the most frequenttypes of internal frauds, and patent infringements, false representation and secretcommissions as the most favored external crimes. Among management frauds,window dressing of balance sheets is the hot favorite followed by more creativeones like fudging MIS and giving wrong information.Attitudinal ChangesAttitudes represent feeling and beliefs of individuals towards others. Attitudeaffects motivation, satisfaction and job commitment. Negative attitudes need toProjectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.combe converted into positive attitudes. Changing negative attitudes is difficultbecause 1. Employees refuse to changes 2. They have prior commitments 3. And information needed to change attitudes may not be sufficientNevertheless, attitude must be

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

changed so that employees feel committed to theorganization, are motivated for better performance, and derive satisfaction fromthere jobs and the work environmentDecisions Making and Problem Solving SkillsDecision making skill and problem solving skills focus on method and techniquesfor making organizational decisions and solving work-related problems. Learningrelated to decision-making and problem-solving skills seeks to improve traineesabilities to define structure problems, collect and analysis information, generatealternative solution and make an optimal decision among alternatives. Training ofthis type is typically provided to potential managers, supervisors andprofessionals.Exhibit # 2 Training inputs at HLLThe training and development affords at HLL are designed to develop thefollowing: 1. Helping employees satisfy personal goals through higher level of skills and competencies 2. Facilitating higher contribution at there present jobs and preparing them for the next level of responsibilities 3. Developing individuals and teams to meet the total needs of the organizationTRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT AS SOURCE OF COMPETITIVEADVANTAGECompanies derive competitive advantage from training and development.Training and development programmes, as was pointed out earlier, help removeperformance deficiencies in employee. This is particularly true when - (1) thedeficiency is caused by a lack of ability rather than a lack of motivation toperform, (2) the individual(s) involved have the aptitude and motivation need tolearn to do the job better, and (3) supervisors and peers are supportive of thedesired behaviors.Training & Development offers competitive advantage to a firm by removingperformance deficiencies; making employees stay long; minimized accidents,scraps and damage; and meeting future employee needs.There is greater stability, flexibility, and capacity for growth in an organization.Projectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.comTraining contributes to employee stability in at least two ways. Employeesbecome efficient after undergoing training. Efficient employees contribute to thegrowth of the organization. Growth renders stability to the workforce. Further,trained employees tend to stay with the organization. They seldom leave thecompany. Training makes the employees versatile in operations. All rounderscan be transferred to any job. Flexibility is therefore ensured. Growth indicatesprosperity, which is reflected in increased profits from year to year. Who else butwell-trained employees can contribute to the prosperity of an enterprise?Accidents, scrap and damage to machinery and equipment can be avoided orminimized through training. Even dissatisfaction, complaints, absenteeism, andturnover can be reduced if employees are trained well.Future needs of employees will be met through training and developmentprogrammes. Organizations take fresh diploma holders or graduates asapprentices or management trainees. They are absorbed after coursecompletion. Training serves as an effective source of recruitment. Training is aninvestment in HR with a promise of better returns in future.A companys training and development pays dividends to the employee and theorganization. Though no single training programme yields all the benefits, theorganization which devotes itself to training and development enhances its HRcapabilities and strengthens its competitive edge. At the same time, theemployees personal and career goals are furthered, generally adding to his orher abilities and value to the employer. Ultimately, the objectives of the HRdepartment are also furthered.The Benefits of Employee TrainingHow Training Benefits the Organization: Leads to improved profitability and/or more positive attitudes towards profit orientation. Improves the job knowledge and skills at all levels of the organization Improves the morale of the workforce Helps people identify with organizational goals Helps create a better corporate image Fosters authenticity, openness and trust Improves relationship between boss and subordinate Aids in organizational development learns from the trainee Helps prepare guidelines for work Aids in understanding and carrying out organizational policies. Provides information for future needs in all areas of the organization Organization gets more effective decision-making and problem-solving skills Aids in development for promotion from withinProjectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.com Aids in developing leadership skills, motivation, loyalty, better attitudes, and other aspects that successful workers and managers usually display Aids in increasing productivity and/or quality of work Helps keep costs down in many areas, e.g. production, personnel, administration, etc. Develops a sense of responsibility to the organization for being competent and knowledgeable Improves Labour-management relations Reduces outside consulting costs by utilizing competent internal consultation Stimulates preventive management as opposed to putting out fires Eliminates suboptimal behavior (such as hiding tools) Creates an appropriate climate for growth, communication Aids in improving organizational communication Helps employees adjust to change Aids in handling conflict, thereby helping to prevent stress and tension.Benefits to the Individual Which in Turn Ultimately Should Benefit theOrganization: Helps the individual in making better decisions and effective problem solving Through training and development, motivational variables of recognition, achievement, growth, responsibility and advancement are internalized and operationalised Aids in encouraging and achieving selfdevelopment and self-confidence Helps a person handle stress, tension, frustration and conflict Provides information for improving leadership, knowledge, communication skills and attitudes Increases job satisfaction and recognition Moves a person towards personal goals while improving interactive skills Satisfies personal needs of the trainer (and trainee) Provides the trainee an avenue for growth and a say in his/her own future Develops a sense of growth in learning Helps a person develop speaking and listening skills; also writing skills when exercises are required. Helps eliminate fear in attempting new tasksBenefits in Personnel and Human Relations, Intra-group & Intergroup Relationsand Policy Implementation: Improves communication between groups and individuals: Aids in orientation for new employee and those taking new jobs through transfer or promotion Provides information on equal opportunity and affirmative action Provides information on other government laws and administrative policies Improves interpersonal skills.Projectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.com Makes organizational policies, rules and regulations viable. Improves morale Builds cohesiveness in groups Provides a good climate for learning, growth, and co-ordination Makes the organization a better place to work and liveTHE TRAINING PROCESSFigure #1 below outline important steps in a typical training process. Needs assessment Organizational support Organizational analysis Task and KSA analysis Person analysis Developm Training Instructional ent of Validity Objective criteria Selection and design Transfer of Validity instructional programs Intraorgani Training zational Use of validity evaluation models Interorgani zational validity The Training ProcessNEED ASSESSMENTNeeds assessment diagnoses present problems and future challenges to be metthrough training and development. Organizations spend vast sums of moneyProjectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.com(usually as a percentage on turnover) on training and development. Beforecommitting such huge resources, organizations would do well to the trainingneeds of their employees. Organizations that implement training programmeswithout conducting needs assessment may be making errors. For example, aneeds assessment exercise reveal that less costly interventions (e.g. selection,compensation package, job redesign) could be used in lieu of training.Needs assessment occurs at two levels-group and individual.

An individualobviously needs when his or her performance falls short of standards, that is,when there is performance deficiency. Inadequacy in performance may be due tolack of skill or knowledge or any other problem. The problem of performancedeficiency caused by absence of skills or knowledge can be remedied bytraining. Faulty selection, poor job design, uninspiring supervision or somepersonal problem may also result in poor performance. Transfer, job redesign,improving quality of supervision, or discharge will solve the problem. Figurebelow illustrates the assessment of individual training needs and remedialmeasures. Performance Deficiency Lack of skill or Other Causes Knowledge Non-training Training Measures Figure #2 Needs Assessment and Remedial MeasuresAssessment of training needs must also focus on anticipated skills of anemployee. Technology changes fast and new technology demands new skills. Itis necessary that the employee be acquire new skills. This will help him/her toprogress in his or her career path. Training and development is essential toprepare the employee to handle more challenging tasks. Deputation to a part-time MBA programme is ideal to train and develop such employees.Individuals may also require new skills because of possible job transfers.Although job transfer common as organizational personnel demands vary, theydo not necessarily require training efforts. Employees commonly require only anorientation to new facilities and jobs. Recently however, economic forces havenecessitated significant retraining efforts in order to assure continuedProjectsformba.blogspot.com 9. Projectsformba.blogspot.comemployment for many individuals. Jobs have disappeared as technology, foreigncompetition, and the forces of supply and demand are changing the face of ourindustry.Assessment of training needs occurs at the group level too. Any change in theorganizations strategy necessitates training of groups of employees. Forexample, when the organization decide to introduce a new line of products, salespersonnel and production workers have to be trained to produce, sell and servicethe new products. Training can also be used when high scrap or accident rates,low morale and motivation, or other problems are diagnosed. Although training isnot all, such undesirable happenings reflect poorly-trained workforce.Needs assessment methodsHow are training needs assessed? Several methods are available for thepurpose. As shown in the below table, some are useful for organizational-levelneeds assessment others for individual needs assessment Table #2 Methods Used in Training Needs Assessment Group or organizational Analysis Individual Analysis Organizational goals and objective Performance appraisal Personnel/skill invention Work sampling Organizational climate indices Interviews Efficiency indices Questionnaires Exit interviews Attitude survey MBO or work planning systems Training progress Customer survey/satisfaction data Rating scales Customer survey/satisfaction data Consideration of current and projected changesIssue in Needs assessmentNeeds assessment, individual or group, should consider several issuesas shown in Fig. #1Projectsformba.blogspot.com 10. Projectsformba.blogspot.comOrganizational Support: Needs assessment is likely to make inroads intoorganizational life. The assessment tends to change patterns of behavior ofemployees. When the needs assessment is carefully designed and supported bythe organization, disruption is minimized and co-operation is much more likely tooccur. Obviously, the analyst needs to take steps to work effectively with allparties and gain the trust and support of the participants in the needsassessment.Organizational Analysis: Having obtained organizational support, the next stepin the needs assessment is an organizational analysis, which seeks to examinethe goals of the organization (short-term and long-term), and the trends that arelikely to affect these goals. The analyst needs to ask and answer the followingquestions: Is there a sufficient supply of people? How does the firm attract, retain and motivate diverse work-force? How does the firm compete for individuals with the right skills, knowledge abilities and attitudes? How do employees make the firm competitive, domestically and internationally? Which are the target jobs that require training? These issues enable the analyst identify skill gaps in people, which trainingseeks to fill. Organizational analysis seeks to examine the goals of the organization and the trends that are likely to affect these goals.Task and KSA Analysis In addition to obtaining organizational support andmaking organizational analysis, it is necessary to assess and identify what tasksare needed on each job and which knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) arenecessary to perform these tasks. This assessment helps prepare a blueprintthat describes the KSAs to be achieved upon completion of the trainingprogramme.Person Analysis: This analysis obliviously targets individual employees. A veryimportant aspect of person analysis is to determine which necessary KSAs havealready been learnt by the prospective trainee so that precious training time isnot wasted repeating what has already been acquired. Also, employed who needto undergo training are identified at this stage.Benefit of Needs AssessmentTraining programmes are designed to achieve specific goals that meet feltneeds. There is always the temptation to begin training without a thoroughanalysis of these needs. Should this happen, the training programme becomesinappropriate and its administration turn to be perfunctory. There are otherbenefits of needs assessment are other benefits of needs assessment: 1. Trainers may be informed about the broader needs of the trainees. 2. Trainers are able to pitch their course inputs closer to the specific needs of the trainees. 3. Assessment makes training department more accountable and more clearlyProjectsformba.blogspot.com 11. Projectsformba.blogspot.com linked to other human resource activities, which may make the training programme easier to sell to line manager.Consequences of Absence of Training Needs AssessmentThe significance of needs assessment can be better understood by looking at theconsequence of inadequate or absence of needs assessment. Failure to conductneeds assessment can contribute to: Loss of business Constraints on business development Higher labor turnover Poorer-quality applicants Increased overtime working Higher rates of pay, overtime premiums and supplements Higher recruitment costs, including advertising, time and incentives Greater pressure and stress on management and staff to provide cover. Pressure on job-evaluation schemes, grading structures, payment system and career structure Additional retention costs in the form of flexible working time, job sharing, part time working, shift working, etc. Need for job redesign and revision of job specifications Undermining career paths and structures Higher training costsDeriving Instructional ObjectivesThe next phase in the training process is to identify instructional objectives.Needs assessment helps prepare a blueprint that describes the objectives to beachieved by the trainee upon completion of the training programme. Instructionalobjectives provide the input for designing the training programme as well as forthe measures of success (criteria) that would help assess effectiveness of thetraining programme. Below are some sample instructional objectives for atraining programme with sales people. After training, the employee will be able to smile at all customers even when exhausted or ill unless the customer is irate. After training, the employee will be able to accurately calculate mark down on all sales merchandise.Designing Training and Development ProgrammeEvery training and development programme must address certain vital issues (1)who participate in the programme? (2) Who are the trainers? (3) What methodsand techniques are to be used for training? (4) What should be the level oftraining? (5) What learning principles are needed? (6) Where is the programmeconducted?Projectsformba.blogspot.com 12. Projectsformba.blogspot.com What methods Who are the Fig #3 Steps inthe Who are training Programme and trainees? trainers? techniques?Who are the Trainees? Trainees should be selected on the basis of selfnomination, recommendations of supervisors or by the HR

department itself.Whatever is the basis, it is advisable to have two or more target audiences. Forexample, rank-and-file employees and their supervisors may effectively learntogether about a new work process and their respective roles. Bringing several What should betarget audience together can also facilitate group processes conduct problem What principles of Where to such as the level of learning? useful in quality circle projects.solving and decision making, elements the programme? training?Who are the Trainers? Training and development programmes may beconducted by several people, including the following: 1. Immediate supervisors, 2. Co-workers, as in buddy systems, 3. Members of the personnel staff, 4. Specialists in other parts of the company, 5. Outside consultants, 6. Industry associations, and 7. Faculty members at universities.Who among these are selected to teach, often, depends on where theprogramme is held and the skill that is being taught. For example, programmesteaching basic skills are usually done by the members of the HR department orspecialists in other departments of the company. On the other hand,interpersonal and conceptual skills for managers are taught at universities. Largeorganizations generally maintain their own training departments whose staffconducts the programmes. In addition, many organizations arrange basic-skillstraining for computer literacy.Methods and Techniques of Training: A multitude of methods of training areused to train employees. The most commonly used methods are shown in Table#2. Table #2 lists the various training methods and presents a summary of themost frequent uses to which these methods are put. As can be seen from Table#2, training methods are categorized into two groups-{I) on-the-job and (ii) off-the-job methods. On-the-job methods refer to methods that are applied in theworkplace, while the employee is actually working. Off-the-job methods are usedaway from workplaces.Training techniques represent the medium of imparting skills and knowledge toemployees. Obviously, training techniques are the means employed in theProjectsformba.blogspot.com 13. Projectsformba.blogspot.comtraining methods. Among the most commonly used techniques are lectures,films, audio cassettes, case studies, role playing, video-tapes and simulations.Table #3 presents the list of training techniques along with their ranking basedon effectiveness. The higher the ranking (1 is the highest rank), the moreeffective the technique is.Table # 3 Training Methods and the Activities for which they are used Orienting New Sales, Creative, Employees, Special Administrative, Safety Technical & Introducing, Skills Supervisory & Education Professional Innovations Training Managerial Education In Products Education & Services 1 2 3 4 5A. On theJobTrainingOrientation Y N N N NTrainingJob Y Y N N NinstructiontrainingApprentice Y Y N N NtrainingInternships & N y N Y YAssistantshipJob Rotation Y N N N YCoaching N Y Y Y YB. Off theJobMethodsVestibule Y Y N N NLecture Y Y Y Y YSpecial Y Y Y Y YStudyFilms Y Y Y Y YTelevisions Y Y Y Y YConference Y N Y Y YorDiscussionCase Study N N N N YRole Playing N N N Y NSimulation Y Y Y Y NProgrammed Y Y Y Y 3InstructionsProjectsformba.blogspot.com 14. Projectsformba.blogspot.comLaboratory N N 3 3 NtrainingY=Yes; N-NoAt this point, it is worthwhile to elaborate on important techniques of training. Weexplain the following-lectures, audio-visuals, on-the-job training, programmedinstruction, computer aided instruction, simulation and sensitivity training.Lectures: Lecture is a verbal presentation of information by an instructor to alarge audience. The lecturer is presumed to possess a considerable depth ofknowledge of the subject at hand. A virtue of this method is that is can be usedfor very large groups, and hence the cost per trainee is low. This method ismainly used in colleges and universities, though its application is restricted intraining factory employees. (See Table #3) Table #4 The Relative Effectiveness of training Methods Training Knowledge Changing Problem Interpersonal Participant Knowledge Method Acquisition Attitudes Solving Skills Acceptance retention Rank Rank Skills Rank Rank Rank Case study 2 4 1 4 2 2 Conference 3 3 4 3 1 5 Lecture 9 8 9 8 8 8 Business games 6 5 2 5 3 6 Films 4 6 7 6 5 7 Programmed 1 7 6 7 7 1 Instruction Role Playing 7 2 3 2 4 4 Sensitivity Training 8 1 5 1 6 3 Television 5 9 8 9 9 9 LectureLimitations of the lecture method account for its low popularity. The methodviolates the principle of learning by practice. It constitutes a one-waycommunication. There is no feedback from the audience.. Continued lecturing islikely to bore the audience. To break the boredom, the lecturer often resorts toanecdotes, jokes and other attentiongetters. This activity may eventuallyovershadow the real purpose of instruction. However, the lecture method can bemade effective it if is combined other methods of training.Audio-visual: Visuals Audio-visuals include television slides, overheads, video-types and films. These can be used to provide a wide range of realistic examplesof job conditions and situations in the condensed period of time. Further, thequality of the presentation can be controlled and will remain equal for all traininggroup. But, audio-visuals constitute a one-way system of communication with noscope for the audience to raise doubts for clarification. Further, there is noflexibility of presentation from audience to audience.Projectsformba.blogspot.com 15. Projectsformba.blogspot.comOn the job Training (OJT) Majority of industrial training is of the on-the-job-training type. OJT is conducted at the work site and in the context of the job.Often, it is informal, as when an experienced worker shows a trainee how toperform the job tasks.OJT has advantages. It is the most effective method as the trainee learns byexperience, making him or her highly competent. Further, the method is leastexpensive since no formal training is organized. The trainee is highly motivatedto learn he or she is aware of the fact that his or her success on the job dependson the training received. Finally, the training is free from an artificial situation of aclassroom. This contributes to the effectiveness of the programme.OJT suffers form certain demerits as well. The experienced employee may lackexperience or inclination to train the juniors. The training programme itself is notsystematically organized. In addition, a poorly conducted OJT programme islikely. to create safety hazards, result in damaged products or materials, andbring unnecessary stress to the trainees.OJT is conducted at the work site and in the context of the job. It is, much time,informal. An experienced worker shows a trainee how to work on the job.Programmed Instruction (PI) This is a method where training is offered withoutthe intervention of a trainer. Information is provided to the trainee in blocks, eitherin a book of thought a teaching machine. After reading each block of material, thelearner must answer a question about it. Feedback in the form of correct answersis provided after each response. Thus, programmed instruction (PI) involves: 1. Presenting questions, facts, or problems to the learner 2. Allowing the person to respond 3. Providing feedback on the accuracy of his or her answers 4. If the answers are correct, the learner proceeds to the next block. If not, he or she repeats the same.The main advantage of PI is that it is self-paced-trainees can progress throughthe programme at their own speed. Strong motivation is provided to the learner torepeat learning. Material is also structured and selfcontained, offering muchscope for practice.The disadvantages are not to be ignored. The scope for learning is less,compared to other methods of training. Cost of preparing books, manuals andmachinery is considerably high.Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) This is an extension of the PI method.The speed memory and data-manipulation capabilities of the computer permitgreater utilization of basic PI concept. For example, the learners response maydetermine the frequency and difficulty level of the next frame.Projectsformba.blogspot.com

16. Projectsformba.blogspot.comCAI is an improved system when compared to the PI method, in at least threerespects. First, CAI provides for accountability as tests are taken on thecomputer so that the management can monitor each trainees progress andneeds. Second, a CAI training programme can also be modified easily to reflecttechnological innovations in the equipment for which the employee is beingtrained. Third, this training also tends to be more flexible in that trainees canusually use the computer almost any time they want, and thus get training whenthey prefer. Not to be ignored is the fact that from CAI is as rich and colorful asmodem electronic games, complete with audio instruction displays. A deterrentwith regard to CAI is its high cost, but repeated use may justify the cost.Simulation: A simulator is any kind of equipment or technique that duplicates asnearly as possible the actual conditions encountered on the job. Simulation then,is an attempt to create a realistic decision-making environment for the trainee.Simulations present likely problem situation and alternatives to the trainee. Forexample, activities of an organization may be simulated and the trainee may beasked to make a decision in support to those activities. The results of thosedecisions are reported back to the trainee with an explanation of what wouldhave happened had they actually made in the workplace. The trainee learns fromthis feedback and improves his/her subsequent simulation and workplacedecisions.The more widely held simulation exercises are case study, role playing andvestibu1 training.Case Study: is a written description of an actual situation in business whichprovokes, in the reader, the need to decide what is going on, what the situationreally is or what the problems are, and what can and should be done. Taken fromthe actual experiences of organizations, these cases represent to describe, asaccurately as possible, real problems that managers have faced. Trainee studiesthe cases to determine problems, analyses causes, develop alternative solutions,select the best one, and implement it. Case study can provide stimulatingdiscussions among participants as well as excellent opportunities for individualsto defend their analytical and judgment abilities. It appears to be an ideal methodto promote decision-making abilities within the constraints of limited data.Role playing: generally focuses on emotional (mainly human relations) issuesrather than actual ones. The essence of role playing is to create a realisticsituation, as in case study, and then have the trainee assume the parts ofspecific personalities in the situation. For example, a male worker may assumethe role of a female supervisor, and the supervisor may assume the role of amale worker. Then, both may be given a typical work situation and asked torespond as they expect others to do. The consequences are a betterunderstanding among individuals. Role playing helps promote interpersonalrelation. Attitude change is another result of role playing. Case study and roleplaying are used in MDPsVestibule Training: utilizes equipment which closely resembles the actual onesused on the job. However, training takes place away from the work environment.Projectsformba.blogspot.com 17. Projectsformba.blogspot.comA special area or a room is set aside from the main production area and isequipped with furnishings similar to those found in the actual production area.The trainee is then permitted to learn under simulated conditions, withoutdisrupting ongoing operations. A primary advantage of vestibule training itrelieves the employee from the pressure of having to produce while learning. Theemphasis is on learning skills required by the job. Of course, the cost of duplicatefacilities and a special trainer is an obvious disadvantage.The advantage of simulation is the opportunity to create an environment similarto real situations the manager incurs, but without the high costs involved shouldthe actions prove undesirable. The disadvantage is (i) it is difficult to duplicate thepressures and realities of actual decision-making non the job and (ii) individualsoften act differently in real-life situations than they do in acting out a simulatedexercise.Sensitivity Training: Sensitivity training uses small numbers of trainees, usuallyfewer than 12 in a Group. They meet with a passive trainer and gain insight intotheir own and others behavior. Meeting have no agenda, are held away fromworkplaces, and questions deal with the here and now of the group process.Discussions focus on why participants behave as they do, how they perceiveone another, and the feelings and emotions generated in the interaction process.The objectives of sensitivity training are to provide the participants with increasedawareness of their own behavior and how others perceive them-greatersensitivity to the behavior of others, and increased understanding of groupsprocesses. Specific results sought include increased ability to empathize withother, improved listening skills, greater openness, increased tolerance ofindividual difference and increased conflict-resolution skills. The drawback of thismethod is that once the training is over, the participants are themselves againand they resort to their old habits.Sensitivity training can go by a variety of nameslaboratory training, encountergroups, or T- groups (training groups). Table 9.9 shows some more techniques oftraining.Exhibit # 3 Training goes Techno-SavvyIn todays electronic world, the World Wide Web (WWW) is all pervasive. Theinternet and intranet are changing the face of training and learning. Using a PC, amodem and a web browser, it has become possible to learn online.Web-based courses through distance learning are virtual. An employee cansimply connect to the Internet study the syllabus options available, and enroll forthe courses electronically. He or she can then receive a. course work online andeven take tests and advance to the next level-all from his or her own house.Global giants like Motorola and Ford Motor are reaping the benefits of virtuallearning. Employees of Motorola have access of self-paced computer basedProjectsformba.blogspot.com 18. Projectsformba.blogspot.comtraining (CBT) material through the firms Intranet Motorola offers nearly onehundred online courses, mostly in information technology.Virtual learning presents its own challenges. The biggest being an infrastructureto connect the entire organization across the seven seas. Web servers, ISDNlines, laptops, and personnel computers are the basic requisites. But thesefacilities will payoff in the long-run. Firms investing in virtual learning technologiescan slash their training budgets by 30 to 50 per centLearning through the web can be very convenient for employees. There are nofixed schedules or limitations of time. One can attend the course at home, in theevening when one is at leisure, or while traveling to work. The learners do nothave to depend on the trainers availability.It is not just the technical programs: soft skills can also be learnt electronically.One firm used a CDROM manual to impart soft-skills like performancemanagement, coaching, and interviewing skills. The CDROM based training wassupplemented with shared learning via teleconferencing, where managersdiscussed key learnings and asked for clarifications. Face to face, role-playingexercises were added for the human touch.One advantage of computer-based soft-skills training is that it helps maintainanonymity in situations that may be discomforting for trainees. For example, role-playing exercises, may call for sharing personal information with strangers. Thiscan be avoided in a virtual-learning setting, till the time the learner becomes moreopen and flexible.It reads like who is who in using virtual learning. Motorola and Ford are only thetwo. There are others too. IBM, for example, has a virtual university, IBM GlobalCampus, to provide its employees continuous skills-driven-Learning opportunitiesvia the corporate intranet across the globe.Federal Express has turned to interactive multimedia for a more effective trainingsystem. Employees have the facility to get training via personnel computersduring regular working hours at any time convenient to them.Texas Instrument has been using satellitebased and CBT for a long time. Thefirms satellite broadcast links employees in countries all over the world, includingGermany, Italy, France,

England, Japan, and India.Boeing delivers interactive training to its 22,000 managers globally through acommunication service that uses the satellite broadcast technology. Oneapplication of the service was a short strategic planning skills course foremployees in Boeing offices in US, Japan, Australia, and Western Europe. Thecourse participants viewed the workshops on monitors in corporate conferencerooms as well as on large-screen video-projection equipment in auditoriums. Theonline training was supplemented with small-group work with a site facilitator,presentations via satellite from Boeing experts, workbook exercises, and audioProjectsformba.blogspot.com 19. Projectsformba.blogspot.cominteraction with instructors. Boeing reported savings of $ 9 million in travel costsalone.Table #5 Techniques of Training Technique DescriptionIce Breakers Games to get team members know each otherLeading Games Exercise to each different styles of leadershipSkill Games Test to develop analytical skillsCommunication Games Exercise to build bias free listening and talkingStrategic planners Games to test ability to plan aheadTeam building games Exercise requiring collaborative effortRole reversal Exercise to teach plurality of viewDoubling Bring out the ideas that are not often expressedTag Teams One role played alternately by two participantMirroring Training with external perspectiveMonodrama Insight into a given interactionShifting physical position highlighting of communication problemsStructured role playing Role play with predetermined objectiveMultiple role playing Providing a common focus of discussionBuilt-in-tension Teaching the importance of resolving matterShadowing Working under a senior to watch and learnOutward bound training Adventure sports for teams9 + 1 + 23 Self-assessment by a leader of leadership skillsLateral Thinking Thinking randomly to come up with new ideasMorphological Analysis Listing of alternative solution to problemsGordon Technique Steering a discussion to crystallize solutionsAttribute Listening Isolation, selection and evaluation of a problemCross-Cultural Training Programmes to tech specifics of varied culturesWhat should be the Level of Learning? The next question in designing trainingand development programme is to decide on the level of learning. As waspointed out earlier, the inputs passed on to trainees in training and developmentprogrammes are education, skills, and the like.In addition, there are three basic levels at which these inputs can be taught. Atthe lowest level, the employee or potential employee must acquire fundamentalknowledge. This means developing a basic understanding of a field andbecoming acquainted with the language, concepts and relationships involved init. The goal of the next level is skills development, or acquiring the ability toperform in a particular skill area. The highest level aims at increased operationalproficiency. This involves obtaining additional experience and improving skillsthat have already been developed.34 All the inputs of training can be offered atthe three levels. How effectively they are learned depends on several principlesof learning.Projectsformba.blogspot.com 20. Projectsformba.blogspot.comLearning Principles: Training and development programmes are more likely tobe effective when they incorporate the following principles of learning: 1. Employee motivation, 2. Recognition of individual differences, 3. Practice opportunities, 4. Reinforcement, 5. Knowledge of results (feedback), 6. Goals 7. Schedules of learning, 8. Meaning of material, and 9. Transfer of learning.Motivation to learn is the basic requisite to make training and developmentprogrammes effective. Motivation comes from awareness that training fetchessome rise in status and pay. Motivation alone is not enough. The individual musthave the ability to learn. Ability varies from individual to individual and thisdifference must be considered while organizing training programmes.Regardless of individual differences and whether a trainee is learning a new skillor acquiring knowledge of a given topic, the trainee should be given theopportunity to practice what is being taught.Practice is also essential after the individual has been successfully trained. It isalmost impossible to find a professional cricket player who does not practice forseveral hours a day. Practice can be a form of positive reinforcement.Reinforcement may be understood as anything that (i) increases the strength ofresponse and (ii) tends to induce repetitions of the behavior that preceded thereinforcement. Distinction may be made between positive reinforcement andnegative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement strengthens and increasesbehavior by the presentation of desirable consequences. The reinforcement(event) consists of a positive experience for the individual. In more general terms,we often say that positive reinforcement consists of rewards for the individualand, when presented, contingent upon behavior, tends to increase the probabilitythat the behavior will be repeated. For example, if an employee does somethingwell and is complimented by the boss, the probability that the behavior will berepeated will be strengthened. In negative reinforcement, the individual exhibitsthe desired behavior to avoid something unpleasant. An example might by anemployee who does something to avoid incurring a reprimand from his or herboss. If an employee who had the habit of coming late to work, assuming this asan unpleasant experience, the employee might begin to come on time to avoidcriticism. Thus, the effect of negative reinforcement is avoidance of learning.Knowledge of results is a necessary condition for learning. Feedback about theperformance will enable the learner to know where he or she stands and toinitiate corrective action if any deviation from the expected goal has taken place.Projectsformba.blogspot.com 21. Projectsformba.blogspot.comThere are certain tasks for which such feedback is virtually mandatory forlearning. A crane operator, for example, would have trouble learning tomanipulate the controls without knowing how the crane responds to controlactions.Goal setting can also accelerate learning, particularly when it is accompanied byknowledge of results. Individuals generally perform better and learn more quicklywhen they have goals, particularly if the goals are specific and reasonablydifficult. Goals that are too difficult or too easy have little motivational value.37further, goals will have better motivational value if the employee has a scope forparticipation in the goal-setting process.Probably one of the most well-established principles of learning is that distributedor spaced learning is superior to continuous learning. This is true for both simplelaboratory tasks and for highly complex ones.Schedules of learning involve (i) duration of practice sessions, (ii) duration of restsessions, and (ill) positioning of rest pauses. All the three must be carefullyplanned and executed.A definite relationship has been established between learning andmeaningfulness of the subject learnt. The more meaningful the material, thebetter is the learning process. What is learnt in training must be transferred to thejob. The traditional approach to transfer has been to maximize the identicalelements between the training situation and the actual job. This may be possiblefor training skills such as maintaining a cash register, but not for teachingleadership or conceptual skills. Often, what is learned in a training session facesresistance back at the job. Techniques for overcoming resistance includecreating positive expectations on the part of trainees supervisor, creatingopportunities to implement new behavior on the job, and ensuring that thebehavior is reinforced when it occurs. Commitment from the top management tothe training programme also helps in overcoming resistance to change.Though, it is desirable that a training and development programme incorporatesall these principles, seldom is such a combination effected in practice.Conduct of Training: A final consideration is where the training anddevelopment programme is to be conducted. Actually, the decision comes downto the following choices: 1. At the job itself 2. On site but not the job-for example, in a training room in the company 3. Off the site, such as in a university or college classroom, hotel, a resort, or a

conference centresTypically, basic skills are taught at the job, and basic grammar skills are taughton the site. Much of interpersonal and conceptual skills are learnt off the site.Implementation of the Training Programme:Projectsformba.blogspot.com 22. Projectsformba.blogspot.comOnce the training programme has been designed, it needs to be implemented.Implementation is beset with certain problems. In the first place, most managersare action-oriented and frequently say they are too busy to engage in trainingefforts. Secondly, availability of trainers is a problem. In addition to possessingcommunication skills, the trainers must know the companys philosophy, itsobjectives, its formal and informal organizations, and the goals of the trainingprogramme. Training and development requires a higher degree of creativitythan, perhaps, any other personnel specialty.Scheduling training around the present work is another problem. How toschedule training without disrupting the regular work? There is also the problemof record keeping about the performance of a trainee during his or her trainingperiod. This information may be useful to evaluate the progress of the trainee inthe company.Programme implementation involves action on the following lines: 1. Deciding the location and organizing training and other facilities. 2. Scheduling the training programme 3. Conducting the programme 4. Monitoring the progress of trainees.Evaluation of the Programme:The last stage in the training and development process is the evaluation ofresults (see Fig. #1). Since huge sums of money are spent on training anddevelopment, how far the programme has been useful must bejudged/determined. Evaluation helps determine the results of the training anddevelopment programme. In practice, however, organizations either overlook orlack facilities for evaluation.Need for Evaluation: The main objective of evaluating the training programmesis to determine if they are accomplishing specific training objectives, that are,correcting performance deficiencies. A second reason for evaluation is to ensurethat any changes in trainee capabilities are due to the training programme andnot due to any other conditions. Training programmes should be evaluated todetermine their cost effectiveness. Evaluation is useful to explain programmefailure, should finally, credibility of training and development is greatly enhancedwhen it is proved that the organization has benefited tangibly from it.Principles of Evaluation: Evaluation of the training programme must be basedon the principles: 1. Evaluation specialist must be clear about the goals and purposes of evaluation. 2. Evaluation must be continuous. 3. Evaluation must be specific. 4. Evaluation must provide the means and focus for trainers to be able to appraise themselves, their practices, and their products. 5. Evaluation must be based on objective methods and standards. 6. Realistic target dates must be set for each phase of the evaluation process. A sense of urgency must be developed, but deadlines that are unreasonably high will result in poor evaluationProjectsformba.blogspot.com 23. Projectsformba.blogspot.comCriteria for Evaluation: The last column in Fig. 9.1 contains a number ofpotential goals 1. Training validity: Did the trainees learn during training? 2. Transfer validity: What has been learnt in training, has it been transferred on the job enhanced performance in the work organization? 3. Intra-organizational validity: Is performance of the new group of trainees, for which the training programme was developed, consistent with the performance of the original training group? 4. Inter-organizational validity: Can a training programme validated in one organization be used successfully in another organization? These questions often result in different evaluation techniques.Techniques of Evaluation: Several techniques of evaluation are being used inorganization may be stated that the usefulness of the methods is inverselyproportional to the ease with which evaluation can be done.One approach towards evaluation is to use experimental and control groups.Each group is randomly selected, one to receive training (experimental) and theother not to receive training (control). The random selection helps to assure theformation of groups quite similar to each other. Measures are taken of therelevant indicators of success (e.g. words typed per minute, quality piecesproduced per hour, wires attached per minute) before and after training for bothgroups. If the gains demonstrated by the experimental groups are better thanthose by the control group, the training programme is labeled as successful.Another method of training evaluation involves longitudinal or time-seriesanalysis. Measures are taken before the programme begins and are continuedduring and after the programme is completed. These results are plotted on agraph to determine whether changes have occurred and remain as a result of thetraining effort. To further validate that change has occurred as a result of trainingand not due to some other variable, a control group may be included.One simple method of evaluation is to send a questionnaire to the trainees afterthe completion the programme to obtain their opinions about the programmesworth. Their opinions could through interviews. A variation of this method is tomeasure the knowledge and/or skills that employee possess at thecommencement and completion of a training. If the measurement reveals that theresults after training are satisfactory, then the training may be taken assuccessful.In order to conduct a thorough evaluation of a training programme, it is importantto assess the cost and benefits associated with the programme. This is a difficulttask, but is useful in convincing the management about the usefulness oftraining.Some of the costs that should be measured for a training programme includeneeds assessment cost, salaries of training department staff, purchase ofProjectsformba.blogspot.com 24. Projectsformba.blogspot.comequipment (computers, videos, handouts), programme development costs,evaluation costs, trainers costs, rental facilities and trainee wages during thetraining period.The benefits to be compared with the cost are rupee payback associated with theimprovement in trainees performance, their behavioral change, and the longevityof the period during which the benefits would lastClosedloop SystemReferring to Figure #1, it may be observed that the model suggests that a trainingprogramme should be a closed-loop system in which the evaluation processprovides for continual modification of the programme. The information maybecome available at several stages in the evaluation process. For example, aneffective monitoring programme might show that the training programme has notbeen implemented as originally planned. In other instances, different conclusionsmight be supported by comparing data obtained from the evaluation of training.In addition, even when the training programme achieves its stated objectives,there are always developments that can affect the programme, including the newtraining techniques or characteristics of trainees. Obviously, the development oftraining programme needs to be viewed as a continuously evolving process.E-LEARNINGE-learning refers to the use of Internet or an organizational intranet to conducttraining on-line. Elearning is becoming increasingly popular because of the largenumber of employees, who need training. Take Wipro, for example, out of its17,500 employees, 2,500 are on site and 15,000 employees are in off-shorecenters at Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune and Delhi. How to organizetraining for all these? Wipro also has a policy of subjecting any employee for atwo-week training every year. E-learning helps Wipro considerably. Similarly, atSatyam nearly 80% of the 9,000 employees are logged into the in-house learningmanagement system for various courses. Infosys has almost 10% of its totaltraining through e-Learning.E-learning has come a long way from its early days when it was used extensivelyfor technical education such as learning new languages and familiarization withnew technologies. Today, firms are introducing soft skill modules as well. Satyamuses e-learning modules on management provided by Harvard Manage MentorPlus. Satyam has even tied up with Universitas 21-a consortium of 16international universities and Thomson learning-for an on-line MBA.It is not that e-learning replaces

25.

26.

27.

28.

traditional training system. In fact, e-learningbecomes more effective when blended with traditional learning methods. Manyfirms use eLearning as a prerequisite before classroom training popularly calledblended training, a combination of electric learning with classroom approach.Projectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.comRoutine training such as orientation, safety and regulation compliance is besthandled in classrooms. Learning that requires discussion, tutoring and team-workcan go on-line, though it might also stay in the classroom.Requisites for E-Learning: E-Learning does not simply mean putting existingcourses and materials on a website. Following requisites need to be providedbefore launching learning on-line: Sufficient top management support and funding needs to be committed to develop and implement e-Learning Managers and HR professionals need to be "retrained" to accept the idea that training is being decentralized and individualized. Current training methods (compared to e-Learning) are not adequately meeting organizational training needs. Potential learners are adequately computer literate and have ready access to computers and the Internet Sufficient number of learners exists and many of them are self-motivated to direct their own learning.Advantages and Disadvantages of E-Learning: E-Learning is advantageous inas much as it is self-paced, allows for consistency and incorporates built-inguidance and help. There are problems nevertheless. E-Learning tends to causetrainee anxiety, as many may not be ready to accept or have access tocomputers and Internet. Table #6 brings out the advantages and disadvantagesmore comprehensively.Table #6 Advantages and Disadvantages of E-Learning Advantages Disadvantages It is self paced. Trainees can May cause trainee anxiety proceed on their own time It is interactive, tapping multiple Not all trainees may be ready for e- trainee senses Learning Allows for consistency in the Not all trainees may have easy and delivery of training uninterrupted access to computers Enables scoring of Not appropriate for all training services/assessments and content (e.g. leadership, cultural appropriate feedback change) Incorporates built-in guidance and Requires significant upfront cost helps for trainees to use when and investment needed It is relatively easy for trainers to No significantly greater learning update content evidenced in research studies Can be used to enhance instructor- Requires significant top led training management support to be successfulSuccess Factors It is worth pointing out that organizations using e-Learningexhibit a number of common success factors:Projectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.com Cultural change has taken place about how training and learning happens and is delivered; E-Learning is closely aligned to the needs of the business; E-Learning is closely "blended" with other types of training such as classroom activities and is not used to wholly replace other activities; Learning needs that drive the technology rather than the other way around; E-Learning has ongoing support from a senior level and is marketed effectively throughout the organization; A range of people with different skills are involved, including expert trainers, facilitators, champions of e-Learning and specialist web and graphic designersIMPEDIMENTS TO EFFECTIVE TRAININGThere are many impediments which can make a training programme ineffective.Following are the major hindrances:Management Commitment is Lacking and Uneven Most companies do notspend money on training. Those that do, tend to concentrate on managers,technicians and professionals. The rank-and-file workers are ignored. This mustchange, for, as a result of rapid technological change, combined with newapproaches to organizational design and production management, workers arerequired to learn three types of new skills: (i) the ability to use technology, (ii) theability to maintain it, and (ill) the ability to diagnose system problems. In anincreasingly competitive environment, the ability to implement rapid changes inproducts and technologies is often essential for economic viabilityAggregate Spending on Training is Inadequate Companies spend minusculeproportions of their revenues on training. Worse still, budget allocation to trainingis the first item to be cut when a company faces a financial crunch.Educational Institutions Award Degrees but Graduates Lack Skills This isthe reason why business must spend vast sums of money to train workers inbasic skills. Organizations also need to train employees in multiple skills.Managers, particularly at the middle level, need to be retrained in team-playingskills, entrepreneurship skills, leadership skills and customer-orientation skills.Large-scale Poaching of Trained Workers Trained workforce is in greatdemand. Unlike Germany, where local business groups pressure companies notto poach on another companys employees, there is no such system in ourcountry. Companies in our country, however, insist on employees to sign bondsof tenure before sending them for training, particularly before deputing them toundergo training in foreign countries. Such bonds are not effective as theemployees or the poachers are prepared to pay the stipulated amounts ascompensation when the bonds are breached.Projectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.comNo Help to Workers Displaced because of Downsizing Organizations aredownsizing and de-layering in order to trim their workforces. The governmentshould set apart certain fund from the National Renewal Fund for the purpose ofretraining and rehabilitating displaced workers.Employers and B Schools Must Develop Closer Ties B Schools are oftenseen as: responding to Labour-market demands. Business is seen as notcommunicating its demands to B Schools. This must change. Businessmen mustsit with Deans and structure the courses that would serve the purpose ofbusiness better.Organized Labour can Help Organized Labour can playa positive role inimparting training workers. Major trade unions in our country seem to be busy inattending to mundane issues such bonus, wage revision, settlement of disputes,and the like. They have little time in imparting training to their members.HOW TO MAKE TRAINING EFFECTIVE?Action on the following lines needs to be initiated to make training practiceeffective: 1. Ensure that the management commits itself to allocate major resources and adequate time to training. This is what high-performing organizations do. For example, Xerox Corporation, in the US invests about $ 300 million annually, or about 2.5 per cent of its revenue on training. Similarly, Hewlett-Packard spends about five per cent of its annual revenue to train its 87.OC: workers. 2. Ensure that training contributes to competitive strategies of the firm. Different strategies need different HR skills for implementation. Let training help employees at all levels acquire the needed skills. 3. Ensure that a comprehensive and systematic approach to training exists, and training and retraining are done at all levels on a continuous and ongoing basis. 4. Make learning one of the fundamental values of the company. Let this philosophy percolate down to all employees in the organization. 5. Ensure that there is proper linkage among organizational, operational and individual training needs. 6. Create a system to evaluate the effectiveness of training. (Evaluation of training has been discussed above.)Projectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.com Newspaper Article on Training & Development On August 4th 2006 Finance and marketing are pass -the function that reallyrocks India Inc is training. Corporate Dossier takes you deepinside the massive in-house training departments created by knowledge corporates, to find how they are powering their growthTraining fires the corporate engineAt the SEEPZ, Andheri , office of TCS in Mumbai, Dilip Kumar Mohapatra, 56,global head for learning and development , is occupied these days withsomething very unusual for people his age computer games. Okay, wereexaggerating. Mohapatras team is actually developing an online game that willbe part of the induction

29.

30.

31.

32.

kit for new hires, and will familiarise TCS inducteesaround the world Buffalo, New York to Hangzhou, China with the culture ofProjectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.comthe company. The challenge is to get everyone on to the common global TCSculture, says Mohapatra. To get a sense of this challenge, consider that thesoftware majors workforce across 34 countries adds up to 71,200 people from53 nationalities. And with 2,500 new people being recruited every month, traininghas to find creative ways to keep pace.Up north in Gurgaon, BPO player IBM Daksh is taking training equally seriously its training group is christened the Talent Transformation Business Unit(TTBU, and is run like a separate business with its own finance controller , qualityhead, an administration and transport wing, and a dedicated HR representative.It is even held accountable for output measures of its trainees, such as voicequality, rejection rates, cost of delivery and customer satisfaction metrics. Webelieve that training is the most important lever to deliver high quality talent, witha direct impact on client satisfaction. That explains our disproportionate focus onthis function, says Pavan Vaish, COO, IBM Daksh.While TCS and IBM Daksh are not the only ones others like Infosys, Wipro,Genpact and ICICI Bank, face similar challenges of hiring and training people ona large scale they are perfect examples of how the in-house trainingdepartment has become crucial, in fact, core to the growth and success of Indiasnew age behemoths.And it shows in the investments being made by these companies into traininginfrastructure and resources. Infosys has a staggering $125 million annual outlayfor training and development, while TCS too invests a comparable figure ontraining. Accentures global spends on training and development has been $546million (for September-August 2005).Need of the HourIn the knowledge economy, its no longer enough to put your employees throughthe occasional training module a few times a year. Companies looking to operateand compete in a global market need to constantly skill and reskill their people,Projectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.comand training is becoming a 24/7/365 affair, cutting across geographies and timerestrictions. To deliver this training on this scale and frequency, technology is key media-rich content, video-on-demand, chat and online self-tutorials haveensured that most of the learning for employees takes place at the place, andtime, of their convenience. Technology has made training asynchronous, saysTV Mohandas Pai, director HR, Infosys, where 30% of training is now IT enabled.For ICICI Banks 27,800 employees a bulk of them at the operational level e-learning is a way of life when it comes to skill up gradation. For us theclassroom is the most inefficient way (to train), says HR head K Ramkumar,whose training team conducts 190 e-learning programmes annually. Whatsinteresting is that by bringing in the convenience of anytime, anywhere learning,companies have managed to put the some of the onus of learning ontoemployees. This is further re-inforced by linking training hours completed, to theindividuals overall performance score. The responsibility of gaining competencyhas been shifted to the learner, since competencies are now closely aligned withappraisals, says MP Ravindra, VP- Education & Research, and Infosys.But nowhere does training assume greater importance than in the BPO industry.With thousands of fresh graduates handling customer queries, theres anongoing need to equip them with the necessary soft and specialized skills. SaysAashu Calapa, executive VP, HR at ICICI One-Source, 40% of our recruits arefresh graduates, and with most jobs being customer-facing ones, clients areparanoid about the quality of people we employ. Periodic and, often, frequentchanges in the global business environment, have put greater pressure ontraining departments to bring employees up to speed on the latest rules andregulations in their clients industries. Calapa recalls that OneSource associateswere once required to write two tests for a UK-based client one on the dataprotection act and other on the money laundering act, and to pass they had toscore 18 out of 20 points.Also, with BPO companies looking to move up the value chain, people need tobe coached in new skills. Traditional training was just about behavioral andProjectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.comtechnical training, says Rahul Varma, head HR (India), Accenture. Now, itincludes cultural and value training, understanding your own as well as yourclients organization, as well as the industry in which one is working. There isalso a need to get people ready for potential jobs that we may want them to takeup.Changing From the Inside-OutThe really big shift, of course, is that from being a HR support function, traininghas moved on to becoming an independent entity within the organization. Oursupply chain is mission critical to us, says Piyush Mehta, senior VPHR ,Genpact. When you keep training as part of HR, it gets buried. To give it theimportance of an independent function, we treat it as one. And it shows lastyear, Genpact spent close to $8 million on training, and has 313 trainers alongwith 70 part-time specialists who also conduct domain-specific training for its25,000-strong workforce across the world.Monitoring of training quality is just as important. IBM Daksh has been workingwith IBMs research labs to develop a tool called Sensei, a performanceevaluation grid that assesses voice quality and generates a statistical score. Itsbeing tested and will be rolled out later this year. Lyndon J DSilva , VP, TalentTransformation Business Unit, IBM Daksh, says, We believe the only way toproduce quality output is to quantify it. It also has eight people dedicated to R&Din training, who conduct research and refine training methods, after feedbackfrom trainers and business units. With scalability becoming an problem, DSilvabelieves technology will increasingly be trainings best bet.Rapid scaling up in IT and ITES companies is also putting pressure on thetraining machinery, and like most other business functions, training is faced witha talent shortage. Trainers are definitely scarce in numbers, and incapabilities, says Varma. While many companies are outsourcing part of theirrequirement of trainers, others believe in growing them internally, since the besttrainers are line managers and executives who have spent time and understandthe business first hand.Runaway TrainAccenture follows what it calls a leaders teaching leaders approach for technicaltraining, while cross-cultural and communication training is outsourced tovendors. At ICICI Bank, senior executives are required to spend time trainingothers, and this helps decide whether they get on the Leadership Talent List ofpotential fast trackers. Infosys links training to individuals performance.Trainers are also required to keep updating their skills and knowledge, and mostcompanies have structured train-the-trainers programmes in place. Having aglobal presence helps in leveraging training resources and sharing expertiseacross continents. TCS rotates its training faculty between the Indian andProjectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.comoverseas locations, and even brings down people from other countries here.This way, cross-culturalisation happens better, says Mohapatra.New ChallengesIts clear that the quality of the internal training capability will be among a keydriver of business success in the future. Not surprisingly, investment in traininginfrastructure is a priority for most HR heads and CEOs, and coping with scale isa big issue. Expanding the talent pool, managing incidental changes in thetraining modules and scalability are the challenges the training department facestoday, says Ravindra. Expanding internal resources is one way. Buildingexternal partnerships with educational institutions is another so companies likeTCS, Infosys, and Accenture have been developing joint programmes for trainingpeople at these institutions before they join the company. TCS runs an AcademicInterface initiative, wherein its own faculty teaches at academic institutes,

33.

34.

35.

36.

andthis helps in better branding for the company, as well.Mohapatra lists globalization and M&As as the two biggest tests of his trainingdepartments effectiveness in the future in terms of integrating a globallydiverse workforce into a single platform, and ensuring a seamless merger ofcultures during acquisitions . The existing model of training also needs to adaptwith changing business needs from time to time. For instance, TCSs Learning &Development group is currently working on a project (codenamed Pygmalion) todevelop training programmes and tools for a new cadre of people that thecompany has never hired before plain graduates.For others like ICICI Bank, whore in the retail banking and finance business, thechallenge is in extending the in-house training capabilities to a larger pool ofDirect Sales Associates (DSAs) outside the company and make them compatiblewith the company culture. Ramkumar says work is on for a certification processwhereby outside partners will be remunerated according to their assessmentscores after training.BPO firms like ICICI One-Source have mooted the National Assessment ofCompetence (NAC) programme, a joint certification and assesment programmewith Nasscom to expand the employable talent base for the industry. If it works,this initiative could enable training departments to focus on building higher endcompetencies in fresh inductees from day one. Were clear that training is one ofthe pillars that were going to build our future on, says Calapa.Projectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.com On July 31st 2006 Infosys plans largest training centre Infosys to set up worlds largest training hubMYSORE: Software major Infosys plans to invest Rs.809 crores ($176 million) onexpanding its global education centre in the next one year, company executivessaid.Over the next one year, the NASDAQ-listed firm planned to set up a new 9,000-seat training facility here, which would enable training of 13,500 individuals in asingle sitting, they said.An additional 7,750 hostel rooms were under construction, making it a total of10,000 rooms. "When fully completed it will house five food courts, one employeecare centre, one multimedia centre making it undoubtedly the largest trainingfacility in the world," an official said.The companys Mysore campus is spread over 335 acres and it currently has6,378 employees. It has three million square feet of built up area, and work is inprogress to build another 3.2 million square feet.Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Mondayinaugurated the companys fourth software development block here, set up withan investment of Rs.85 crores. It can seat 2,500 people.Projectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.com Daily News & Analysis Online learning gets a thumbs-up from corporates On August 16th 2006BANGALORE: Indian software service firms spend six to eight weeks in trainingfresh recruits before deploying them on projects. With more projects on hand andhiring in thousands, software companies are looking at innovative ways tomaximize the productivity of their employees and ensure faster deployment.Now, online learning companies are focusing on building content that aims tohelp IT firms save training time and costs on employees.The speed at which technology firms can develop, modify and deploy the e-learning content is the key parameters for improving quality of the employeetalent, Sanjeev Fadnavis, associate vice-president, business development, atHarbinger Knowledge Products told DNA Money.According to analysts, the Indian corporate e-learning market is estimated at$10-20 million with a potential to grow at 150%.The technology sector has been among the early adopters of online education,with its focus on constant training of employees and using learning as a retentiontool. In order to capture this huge segment, several players are buildingspecialized tailor-made e-learning courses for tech firms in the country.Bangalore-based Liqwid Krystal, for example, has designed a solution that allowsaspirants for software jobs to write a programme in an online test and assesstheir capability of building codes, unlike the traditional theory-based tests.The proficiency of the candidate on various programmes could be assessedbetter, Liqwid Krystal CEO Anand Adkoli said.Projectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.comLiqwid Krystal has tied up with Viswesvaraya Technical University in Karnatakaand Andhra University in the neighboring state to train over 90,000 engineeringstudents through the module, including in business and soft skills.It is important for knowledge-driven companies to develop and protectintellectual property, which provides competitive and business advantage. Thelearning should be constant, Brain League chief knowledge officer Kalyan CKankanala said.Brainleague and Edutech have joined hands to provide elearning on intellectualproperty rights with a focus on research units across the country.But there is a word of caution for firms that adopt elearning without a clear focuson their business.E-learning can also be a disaster if it is not managed correctly. It is not apanacea; it is a means to an end. To be successful, online learning has to havethe right fit with the organization. It should not be chosen because it isfashionable, Nasscom has said. On August 9th 2006Most agencies have developed their own training methods tailored to suit thenature of their work. GroupM has an internal training department called AspireMGuruKool, which prepares modules to hone functional and managerial skills.Our training programmes encompass strategizing, planning and buying, andhelp develop work and soft skills, in addition to competency-based training, whichinvolves understanding the media business, informs Rashmi Deshpande ofGroup M.Agencies generally rope in internal and external faculties (from India and abroad)for training. Most faculties are specialized and bring to the table expertise in aparticular area.So, for planning and strategizing, we may call someone from HLL, while for softskills we may bring someone from IIM Bangalore, says Deshpande. JWTconducts functional workshops for senior-level staff, level-wise workshops toupgrade skills and middle-management workshops. These workshops seelectures, brainstorming and a time-bound deliverable action plan, says SapnaSrivastava.Ashish Bhasin informs that a team of four from the US and the UK recentlytrained 25 people in Lintas India on the Worldwide Planning Tool Kit. These 25people will, in turn, train others to bring about a cascading effect. We are gettingthe best practices when required, and at the same time exporting knowledge.Projectsformba.blogspot.com Projectsformba.blogspot.comA lot of fresh knowledge is created in India in areas like rural marketing, design,etc that we are ready to export, says Bhasin. Lintas, meanwhile, has set up itsown North-point Centre of learning to empower managers with updatedknowledge and decisionmaking skills.Some of these programmes are often modeled on those developed by parentcompanies. Says Deshpande: All media companies under WPP exchangetraining programmes on modules, content, role etc. We sometimes adapt andsometimes share best practices with others. For its part, O&M has an HR andTraining leadership group in Asia Pacific that plans regional programmes andoversees training plans.Young talent is given more opportunity to grow as well. O&M nominates thosewho have worked for 3-4 years for the regional programme Adopt a Country,which is held thrice a year across different Asia-Pacific centres. A buddy ischosen and the two buddies get an opportunity to visit each others country.The programme is intended to help youngsters build networks across differentregions, work on projects together and develop a sense of belonging. GroupMhas a programme called Fast Trackers for young achievers, where youngstersare put through a lot more grind in terms of opportunities, sent to differentregions, allowed to work with bigger clients and groomed to take on additionalresponsibilities. Lowe sends two people, typically one planner and one creativeor servicing person, for its global young achiever forum, which is held once

ayear.High fliers and the crme de la crme of the talent pool can also look forward toattending special workshops. JWT nominates its top-level staff (those identifiedto head offices) for its international programme Sam Meek, and introduced a topachievers programme in December 2005.O&M sends its senior staff for the regional senior management developmentprogramme (SMDP), a five-module programme spread over 15 months. AndLowe has introduced programmes like media training for non-media, IMAGTraining for non-IMAG and advertising workshop for non-advertising.Projectsformba.blogspot.com 37. Projectsformba.blogspot.com Case Study: Article Training Employees of IBM through E-LearningE-learning is a technology area that often has both first-tier benefits, such asreduced travel costs, and second-tier benefits, such as increased employeeperformance that directly impacts profitability." - Rebecca Wettemann, research director for Nucleus ResearchIn 2002, the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) was rankedfourth by the Training magazine on its The 2002 Training Top 100. Themagazine ranked companies based on their commitment towards workforcedevelopment and training imparted to employees even during periods of financialuncertainty.Since its inception, IBM had been focusing on human resources development:The company concentrated on the education and training of its employees as anintegral part of their development. During the mid 1990s, IBM reportedly spentabout $1 billion for training its employees. However, in the late 1990s, IBMundertook a cost cutting drive, and started looking for ways to train its employeeseffectively at lower Costs. After considerable research, in 1999, IBM decided touse e-Learning to train its employees. Initially, e-Learning was used to train IBMsnewly recruited managers.IBM saved millions of dollars by training employees through e-learning. E-Learning also created a better learning environment for the companysemployees, compared to the traditional training methods. The companyreportedly saved about $166 million within one year of implementing the e-learning program for training its employees all over the world. The figure rose to$350 million in 2001. During this year, IBM reported a return on investment(ROI)s of 2284 percent from its Basic Blue e-Learning program. This was mainlydue to the significant reduction in the companys training costs and positiveresults reaped from e-learning. Andrew Sadler, director of IBM MindspanSolutions, explained the benefits of e-learning to IBM, "All measures ofeffectiveness went up. Its saving money and delivering more effective training,while at the same time providing five times more content than before." By 2002,IBM had emerged as the company with the largest number of employees whohave enrolled into e-Learning courses.However, a section of analysts and some managers at IBM felt that e-Learningwould never be able to replace the traditional modes of training completely. RickProjectsformba.blogspot.com 38. Projectsformba.blogspot.comHorton, general manager of learning services at IBM, said, "The classroom is stillthe best in a high-technology environment, which requires hands-on laboratoriesand teaming, or a situation where it .is important for the group to be together totake advantage of the equipment."Though there were varied opinions about the effectiveness of e-Learning as atraining tool for employees, IBM saw it as a major business opportunity andstarted offering e-learning products to other organizations as well. Analystsestimated that the market for e-Learning programs would grow from $2.1 billionin 2001 to $33.6 billion in 2005 representing a 100 percent compounded annualgrowth rate (CAGR).BACKGROUND NOTESince the inception of IBM, its top management laid great emphasis onrespecting every employee. It felt that every employees contribution wasimportant for the organization. Thomas J. Watson Sr. (Watson Sr.), the father ofmodern IBM had once said, "By the simple belief that if we respected our peopleand helped them respect themselves, the company would certainly profit." TheHR policies at IBM were employee-friendly. Employees were compensated well -as they were paid above the industry average. in terms of wages. The companyfollowed a no layoffs policy. Even during financially troubled periods, employeeswere relocated from the plants, labs and headquarters, and were retrained forcareers in sales, customer engineering, field administration and programming.IBM had emphasized on training its employees from the very beginning. In 1933(after 15 years of its inception), the construction of the IBM Schoolhouse to offereducation and training for employees, was completed. The building had WatsonSr.s Five Steps of Knowledge carved on the front entrance. The five stepsincluded Read, Listen, Discuss, Observe and Think. Managers were trained atthe school at regular intervals.To widen their knowledge base and broaden their perspectives, managers werealso sent for educational programs to Harvard, the London School of Economics,MIT and Stanford. Those who excelled in these programs were sent to theAdvanced Managers School, a program offered in about forty colleges includingsome in Harvard, Columbia, Virginia, Georgia and Indiana. IBMs highest-rankingexecutives were sent to executive seminars, organized at the BrookingsInstitutions this program typically covered a broad range of subjects including,international and domestic, political and econQll1ic affairs. IBM executives wereexposed to topical events with a special emphasis on their implications for thecompany.In 1997, Louis Gerstner (Gerstner), the then CEO of IBM, conducted a researchto identify the unique characteristics of best executives and managers. Theresearch revealed that the ability to train employees was an essential skill, whichdifferentiated best executives and managers. Therefore, Gerstner aimed atimproving the managers training skills. Gerstner adopted a coachingProjectsformba.blogspot.com 39. Projectsformba.blogspot.commethodology of Sir John Whitmore, which was taught to the managers throughtraining workshops.However, after some time, Gerstner realized that the training workshops were notenough. Moreover, these workshops were not just-in-time. Managers had to waitfor months before their turn of attending the work shops came. Therefore, in mostof the cases, during the initial weeks at the job, the employees did not possessthe knowledge of critical aspects like team building.IBM trained about 5000 new managers in a year. There was a five-day trainingprogram for all the new managers, where they were familiarized with the basicculture, strategy and management of IBM. However, as the jobs became morecomplex, the five-day program turned out to be insufficient for the managers totrain them effectively. The company felt that the training process had to becontinuous and not a one-time event.Gerstner thus started looking for new ways of training managers. The companyspecifically wanted its management training initiatives to address the followingissues: Management of people across geographic borders Management of remote and mobile employees Digital collaboration issues Reductions in management development resources Limited management time for training and development Managements low comfort level in accessing and searching online HR resourcesThe company required a continuous training program, without the costs and timeassociated with bringing together 5000 managers from all over the world. Afterconducting a research, IBM felt that online training would be an ideal solution tothis problem. The company planned to utilize the services of IBM MindspanSolutions to design and support the companys manager training program. Thiswas IBMs first elearning project on international training.ONLINE TRAINING @ IBMIn 1999, IBM launched the pilot Basic Blue management training program, whichwas fully deployed in 2000. Basic Blue was an in-house management trainingprogram for new managers. It imparted 75 percent of the training online and theremaining 25 percent through the traditional classroom mode. The e-Learningpart included articles, simulations, job aids and short courses.The founding principle of Basic Blue was that learning is an extended process,not a one-time event." Basic Blue was based

on a 4- Tier blended learningmodel. The first three tiers were delivered online and the fourth tier included one-week long traditional classroom training. The program offered basic skills andknowledge to managers so that they can become effective leaders and people-oriented managers.Projectsformba.blogspot.com 40. Projectsformba.blogspot.comThe managers were provided access to a lot of information including a databaseof questions, answers and sample scenarios called Manager QuickViews. Thisinformation addressed the issues like evaluation, retention, and conflict resolutionand so on, which managers came across. A manager who faced a problem couldeither access the relevant topic directly, or find the relevant information using asearch engine. He/she had direct access to materials on the computers desktopfor online reading. The material also highlighted other important web sites to bebrowsed for further information. IBM believed that its managers should be awareof practices and policies followed in different countries. Hence, the groups wereforemen virtually by videoconferencing with team members from all over theworld,"In the second tier, the managers were provided with simulated situations. Seniormanagers trained the managers online. The simulations enabled the managersto learn about employee skill-building, compensation and benefits, multiculturalissues, work/life balanceissues and business conduct in an interactive manner.Some of the content for [his tier was offered by Harvard Business School and thesimulations were created by Cognitive Arts of Chicago. The online CoachingSimulator offered eight scenarios with 5000 scenes of action, decision points andbranching results. IBM Management Developments web site, Going Globaloffered as many as 300 interactive scenarios on culture clashes.In the third tier, the members of the group started interacting with each otheronline. This tier used IBMs collaboration tools such as chats, and team roomsincluding IBM e-Learning products like the Team-Room, Customer-Room andLotus Learning Space. Using these tools, employees could interact online withthe instructors as well as with peers in their groups. This tier also used virtualteam exercises and included advanced technologies like application sharing, livevirtual classrooms and interactive presentation: on the web. In this tier, themembers of the group had to solve problems as a team by forming virtualgroups, using these products. Hence, this tier focused more on developing thecollaborative skills of the learners.Though training through e-Learning was very successful, IBM believed thatclassroom training was also essential to develop people skills. Therefore, thefourth tier comprised a classroom training program, own as Learning Lab. By thetime the managers reached this tire, they all reached a similar level ofknowledge by mastering the content in the first three tiers. Managers had to passan online test on the content provided in the above three tiers, before enteringthe fourth tier. In the fourth tier, the managers had to master the informationacquired in the above three tiers and develop a deeper understanding and abroader skills set. There were no lectures in these sessions, and the managershad to learn by doing and by coordinating directly with others in the classroom.The tremendous success of the Basic Blue initiative encouraged IBM to extendtraining through e-Learning to its-sales personnel and experienced managers aswell. The eLearning program for the sales personnel was known as SalesProjectsformba.blogspot.com 41. Projectsformba.blogspot.comCompass, and the one for the experienced managers, as Managing@ IBM.Prior to the implementation of the Sales Compass e-Learning program, the salespersonnel underwent live training at the companys headquarters and trainingcampuses. They also attended field training program, national sales conferencesand other traditional methods of training. However, in most of the cases thesemethods proved too expensive, ineffective and time-consuming. Apart from this,coordination problems also cropped up, as the sales team was spread across theworld. Moreover, in a highly competitive market, IBM could not afford to keep itssales team away from work for weeks together.Though Sales Compass was originally started in 1997 on a trial basis to help thesales team in selling business intelligence solutions to the retail andmanufacturing industries, it-was not implemented on a large scale. But with thesuccess of Basic Blue, Sales Compass was developed further. The content ofthe new Sales Compass was divided into five categories including Solutions (13courses), industries (23 courses), personal skills (2 courses), selling skills (11courses), and tools and job aid (4 aids).The sales personnel of IBM across the globe could use the information from theirdesktops using a web browser. Sales Compass provided critical information tothe sales personnel helping them to understand various industries (includingautomotive, banking, government, insurance etc) in a much better manner. Theinformation offered included industry snapshot, industry trends, marketsegmentation, key processes, positioning and selling industry solutions andidentifying resources.It also enabled the sales people to sell certain IBM products designed forCustomer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning(ERP), Business Intelligence (BI), and so on. Sales Compass also trained thesales personnel on skills like negotiating and selling services. Like the Basic Blueprogram, Sales Compass also had simulations for selling products to a specificindustry like banking, about how to close a deal, and so on. It also allowed itsusers to ask questions and had links to information on other IBM sites andrelated websites.Sales Compass was offered to 20,000 sales representatives, client relationshiprepresentatives, territory representatives, sales specialists, and serviceprofessionals at IBM. Brenda Toan (Toan), global skills and learning leader forIBM offices across the world, said, "Sales Compass is a just-in-time, just-enoughsales support information site. Most of our users are mobile. So they are, most ofthe times, unable to get into a branch office and obtain information on a specificindustry or solution. IBM Sales Compass provides industry-specific knowledge,advice on how to sell specific solutions, and selling tools that support oursignature selling methodology, which is convenient for these users."IBM also launched an e-Learning program called Managing @ IBM for itsexperienced managers, in late 2001. The program provided content related toleadership and people management skills, and enabled the managers to meetProjectsformba.blogspot.com 42. Projectsformba.blogspot.comtheir specific needs. Unlike the Basic Blue program, this program enabledmanagers to choose information based on their requirements. The programincluded the face-to-face Learning Lab, e-learning, and Edvisor, a sophisticatedIntelligent Web Agent. Edvisor offered three tracks offering various types ofinformation.By implementing the above programs, IBM was able to reduce its training budgetas well as improve employee productivity significantly. In 2000, Basic Blue saved$16 million while Sales Compass saved $21 million. In 2001, IBM saved $200million and its cost of training per-employee reduced significantly - from $400 to$135. E-learning also resulted in a deeper understanding of the learning contentby the managers. It also enabled the managers to complete their classroomtraining modules in lesser time, as compared to the traditional training methodsused earlier. The simulation modules and collaboration techniques created aricher learning environment. The e-learning projects also enabled the company toleverage corporate internal knowledge as most of the content they carried camefrom the internal content experts. IBMs cost savings through E-Learning Program Saving in 2000 (in US $million) Basic Blue 16.0 Going global 0.6 Coaching simulators 0.8 Manager Quick-Views 6.6 Customer-Room 0.5 Sales Compass 21.0E-LEARNING AT IBM FUTURE PLANSThe e-Learning projects of IBM had been successful right from the initial stagesof their implementation. These programs were appreciated by HR experts ofIDM, and other companies. The Basic Blue program bagged three awards ofExcellence in Practice from the

American Society for Training & Development(ASTD) in March 2000. It was also included among the ten best world-classimplementations of corporate learning initiatives by the "E-Learning across theEnterprise: The Benchmarking Study of Best Practices" (Brandon Hall) inSeptember 2000.IBM continued its efforts to improve the visual information in all its e-Learningprograms to make them more effective. The company also encouraged its otheremployees to attend these e-learning programs. Apart from this, IBM planned toupdate these programs on a continuous basis, using feedback from its new andexperienced managers, its sales force and other employees.IBM used e-Learning not only to train its employees, but also in other HRactivities. In November 2001, IBM employees received the benefits enrollmentProjectsformba.blogspot.com 43. Projectsformba.blogspot.commaterial online. The employees could learn about the merits of various benefitsand the criteria for availing these benefits, such as cost, coverage, customerservice or performance using an Intranet tool called Path Finder. This tool alsoenabled the employees to know about the various health plans offered by IBM.Besides, Pathfinder took information from the employees and returned apreferred plan with ranks and graphs. This application enabled employees to seeand manage their benefits, deductions in their salaries, career changes andmore. This obviously, increased employee satisfaction. The company alsoautomated its hiring process. The new tool on the companys intranet wascapable of carrying out most of the employee hiring processes. Initially, IBM usedto take ten days to find a temporary engineer or consultant. Now, the companywas able to find such an employee in three days.IBM also started exploring the evolving area of mobile learning Analysts felt thatfor mobile sales force of IBM, m-Learning was the next ideal step (after e-Learning). IBM leveraged many new communication channels for offering itscourses to employees. IBM also started offering the courses to its customers andto the general public. In early 2002, American Airlines (AA) used IBMs e-Learning package, which enabled its flight attendants to log on to AAs websiteand complete the safety and security training from any place, at any time. Thecontent included instruction clips, graphics, flash animation, and so on. Thismade the airlines annual safety training certification program guides moreeffective. Shanta Hudson-Fields, AAs manager for line training and specialprojects, commented, "The full service package that IBM offers has allowed us todevelop an effective online course for our large group of busy attendants. Inaddition to providing a flexible training certification experience for our attendants,American has also brought efficiency and cost savings to our training processesusing IBMs e-Learning solution." The company had trained 24,000 flightattendants by November 2002.Projectsformba.blogspot.com