Training Effectiveness
Training Effectiveness
Training Effectiveness
In this era of intense global competition and fast change, organizations of all shapes
and size are more concerned to make the best use of Human Resource capital.
Training has increased its importance in today's environment where jobs are complex
and change. There for to have the best use of Human resource, training must be
provide to the employees. Measuring the impact of training on workplace performance
and its contribution to organizational results is a matter of great concern for
management in all types of organizations. As a result of growing economic pressures,
business leaders are becoming more cost conscious and they are more sensitive
about the return on training investment. In the current economic downturn, such
pressures have further increased. Human resource managers and training
professionals have to justify training expenses by providing some evidence about the
positive impact of training expenses upon business results. Consequently, the issue of
measuring training effectiveness has gained lot of importance over the last few years.
During the past four decades workplace learning and development professionals have
done lot of work in the area of evaluating training effectiveness. Kirkpatrick (1976) did
some pioneering work in this field and introduced the well-known four level
evaluation model, which is still widely used in training industry. Later, some other
experts also made contribution in this direction and made modification in the existing
models. The present study found out many factors which affects training effectiveness
in both ways positively and negatively. It also describes the models of measuring
training effectiveness explained by many researchers and thus the study will help the
managers in measuring the training effectiveness in their organizations. It will also
help in solving training problems and implementing training programmes successfully.
The study also highlights the value of training and development in organizational
improvement and summarizes previous investigations in order to enlighten the
researchers to the state of current research and find out the gap between existing
researches. So as a whole the study gives emphasis on factors affecting training
effectiveness and how training can be made more effective for which the authors
collected reviews on training effectiveness, its implication and its importance on the
basis of which the future research directions have been endeavoured.
Training is an integral part of Human resource development. In the present scenario
training increasingly viewed as a mean of fostering the growth of the individual
employee as well as of the organization also. Training is a process of learning a
sequence of programmed behaviour. Training is the application of gained knowledge
and experience. It gives people an awareness of rules and procedure to guide their
behaviour. According to Flippo (1971) training is an act of increasing the knowledge
and skill of an employee for doing a particular job. Similarly Beach (1980) viewed
that "training is an organized procedure by which people learn knowledge and/or skills
for a definite purpose. In fact it is the training that bridges the gap between job
requirement and employee present specifications. A training programme is not
complete until you have evaluated methods and results. A key to obtaining consistent
success with training programs is to have a systematic approach to measurement and
evaluation. Recognition of the training methods and measurement techniques are
crucial for the organizations training success (Kalemci, 2005). The degree to which
the training attains the desired objectives or immediately expected results, which was
presumed earlier from the training called "Training Effectiveness. The best way to
determine that training has been effective is to fully understand the reason why the
training has been conducted. The reason to conduct and implement training is a key
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Models of Training Effectiveness
Measuring training effectiveness is a tough task. It brings out the outcome of a training
programme. Lots of work has been done on training effectiveness but Kirkpatrick (1976)
being the pioneer who explained the four level method of training evaluation. Level-1 is
reactions criteria, and it evaluates trainees affective and attitudinal reactions to a
training programme. It assesses the responses of trainees attitude about a specific
training programme. Level-2 is learning criteria, which evaluates the extent to which
trainees have learned the training material and acquired knowledge from a training
programme. It brings outs the outcome of a training programme that what does it affects
on trainees. Level-3 is behavior criteria, and it evaluates the extent to which trainees
have applied the training on the in terms of their behavior and/or performance following a
training programme. Level-4 is results criteria, which evaluates the extent to which the
training programme has enhanced department or organizational-level outcomes such as
sales or profits. Fourth level is about how a training programme improved organizational
effectiveness. Noe (1986) summarized the Kirkpatricks model along with the model of
training motivation. As trainees will be more motivated to perform well in training if they
perceive that (1) high effort will lead to high performance in training, (2) high
performance in training will lead to high job performance, and (3) high job performance is
instrumental in obtaining desired outcomes and avoiding undesirable outcomes. Noes
model is basically all about the motivation because motivation itself an immense factor
which affects the performance as well as training outcome. In the same order Swanson &
Sleezer (1987) explained measuring training effectiveness; the first is effectiveness
evaluation plan, the second tools for measuring training effectiveness, and finally the
evaluation report. Shepherd (1999) explained criteria for measuring the success of
training which encompasses direct cost, indirect cost, efficiency, performance to
schedule, reactions, learning, behavior change, and performance change. On the other
hand Zaciewski (2001) examined that employee' individual characteristics such as
motivation, attitude, and basic ability, which affect a training programme and its potential
success in hospital industry. The work environment is also a major factor for making
successful training programme. Whereas Burke & Baldwin (1999) dwelled upon the
transfer of training and viewed that it could be enhanced by using real-world
organizational problems. Case study method or live problem or project assignment could
be used to enhance the transfer of training. Dahiya & Jha (2011) discussed about the
steps in the training programme development, are planning, programme implementation,
and programme evaluation and follow-up. According to them a training programme is not
complete until and unless methods and results have been evaluated.
trainer work with open-mindedness. Driskell (2011) concluded in his study that type of
training implemented, training content and trainee expertise also affect the training
outcomes. Success of a training programme always depends on how the training was
given, what was the content and who was the trainer. Haslinda & Mahyuddin (2009) found
that lack of support from top management and peers, employees individual attitudes,
job-related factors and also the deficiencies in training practice are the main factors which
affect the effectiveness of training. If there will be less support from top management and
peers, job is not going well or somehow there is problem in job and absence of training
practice then there is less chance of effective training programme. Beigi &
Shirmohammadi (2011) found that emotional training have significant impact on service
quality. It means there is a relationship between behavior and learning, and service
industry can be benefitted by emotional training because service industry is basically
related to marketing and verbal communication. Saks & Haccoun (2007) discussed that
psychological states of trainees especially motivation, self-efficacy, perceived control and
the realities of the organizational context affects the training outcomes. Tai (2006) also
concluded about general self-efficacy that it partially arbitrated the relationship between
training framing and training motivation and consequently influenced training outcomes.
On the other hand Black & Mendenhall (1990) explained that cross-cultural skill
development, adjustment and performance are three primary dependent variables of
cross culture training effectiveness. TRAINING MOTIVATION
As we have discussed the factors which affects the training outcomes. In these factors
motivation is the main factor which affects most to training effectiveness. There are many
studies which have been conducted on training motivation. Like Steers & Porter (1975)
found that motivation is the strength that influences enthusiasm about the programme, a
stimulus that directs participants to learn and attempt to master the content of the
programme and a force that influences the use of newly acquired knowledge in a training
situation. Same thing was concluded by Tabassi, et al. (2012) about the relationship
between training and motivation that training and motivation can sustain or increase
employees' current productivity. Motivation can influence the willingness of an employee
to follow the training programme, to exert more energy toward the programme and to
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transfer what they learn onto the job. Bumpass (1990) also stated that employees
attitude and motivation are one of the factors that might influence the effectiveness of
training and development. If the employees are fully motivated towards training
programme they way pay full attention and there will be more chances for success of
training programme. Tracey, et al. (1995) in their study found that motivation, attitude,
and basic ability affect a training programmes potential success. On the other hand
Colquitt, et al. (2000) explained that the locus of control, conscientiousness, anxiety, age,
cognitive ability, self-efficacy, valence, job involvement as the predicators of training
motivation. Sahinidis & Bouris (2008) found that there is strong relationship between
employee perceived training effectiveness and motivation, job satisfaction and
commitment. Tsai & Tai (2003) also discussed about motivation that employees had more
training motivation when they were appointed to attend training programme by
management than when they made their choice freely. It shows that employees
motivation about training programme related to their attitude that they seem more
motivated when they allotted to join a training programme. TRANSFER OF
TRAINING Transfer of training is the main part in training effectiveness programme. It
is found that transfer of training generally refers to the use of trained knowledge and
skills back on the job. Baldwin & Magjuka (1988) mentioned that for transfer to occur,
learned behavior must be generalized to the job context and maintained over a period of
time on the job. Meanwhile, Saks & Haccoun (2007) views training transfer is the
generalization of knowledge and skills learned in training on the job and the maintenance
of acquired knowledge and skills over time. According to the transfer of training
framework by Saks & Haccoun (2007), the transfer of training activities could be
segregated into three phases which is before, during, and after training to facilitate and
improve the transfer of training. The trainer should conduct follow-up or booster sessions
following a training program. IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING EFFECTIVENESS
Quesada, et al. (2011) examined that Emotional Intelligence training of the leaders is a
key aspect to the success of the companies. It was found that leaders are the success
pillar of a company and their training is most important thing which should be taken care.
Leaders must be emotionally strong to take right decision on right time. Kalemci (2005)
explained about the importance of training that training and developing human capital is
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MANAGERIAL IMPLICATIONS
Every study has started to keep this thing in mind that it will have some social implication
or it will help in improving the social and organizational conditions. Some more objectives
also relates with the study like to help the researchers and to find the area which is not in
the eyes of researchers till now. Same as this paper also has its implications. It reports the
findings of different research papers on training effectiveness, measuring training
effectiveness models, training effectiveness factors; its importance and how it could be
achieved. The study covered many aspects of training effectiveness like what are the
main factors which affects it so that managers would be able to frame the training
programme accordingly the paper also represents the models of measuring training
effectiveness that helps the trainers to measure its effectiveness. The paper not only
motivates the trainers but trainees also as it discussed how training is important for
individual and organizational development. Most significant thing about training is that if
trainers have good knowledge, experience, confidence and the ability to motivate
trainees then it brings out great result International Journal of Advanced Research in
Management and Social Sciences ISSN: 2278-6236 Vol. 2 | No. 1 | January 2013
www.garph.co.uk IJARMSS | 160
CONCLUSION
The paper provides an insight of training and development and training effectiveness. The
study has collected different observations and analysis about training, its importance and
methods of training. The paper is basically above the factors affecting training
effectiveness and how the training effectiveness can be measured. To make training more
effective organizations requires to look at how the training and development system is
associated with the strategy of the organization and at what is being done to check out
that all training programme are effective. The study revealed many factors that affect
training effectiveness but three factors i.e. motivation, attitude and emotional intelligence
emerged to be stronger and more responsible in making training effective, These three
factors were found dominant on other factors while a training programme is going on.
Managers should first motivate employees to learn new abilities and skills. Next, to ensure
better training effectiveness, managers should support employee efforts to practice such
skills at the workplace. Trainees attitude decides that what would be learning ratio from
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