Sample Question - Value of Training

QUESTION

Why does training not always succeed in organizations?

ANSWER

As you know, training is an essential tool that organizations must have in place to help employees continue to grow and develop.  The type of training (in-house, on the job, out of house, etc.) depends on the specific need of the company and individuals.  The true need is the key to the success of training.  Before any type of training can be implemented, a needs assessment should be conducted to assess exactly what training is needed and why.  The needs assessment should be able to show how the training ties to the company's vision and mission and has an impact on the bottomline.  Not every training will have this direct correlation; however, even professional growth opportunities have an indirect impact on an organization.

So, for your training to succeed, you need to:

- Begin with a needs assessment

- Be able to tie the need for the training to the organizations' goals and objectives. 

- Obtain buy in from management to support employees attending the training

- Provide effective communications to ensure employees understand the value of taking the time to attend the program

Delivery of the training must be highly interactive and have some connection on how it can be used in the workplace.  Once a program has been delivered, the training still cannot be measured for success until you determine if employees are indeed applying what they learned.  All of these factors are needed for a training to succeed.

Remember, measure the value of your training from a cost benefit perspective and your return on investment.  Keep in mind the cost of training can also be the cost of NOT training.