Is Training Important to Your Organization?

[WALLACE]

Is training given a high rank of importance in your organization?
Or do you fly by the seat of your pants?
Wallace.

[Claes Gefvenberg]

Interesting way of putting it...

Yes, it is important to us, no question about it. That said, there is a lot of seat of the pants flying. Training is often a pretty decentralized affair here, and we sometimes do have a problem keeping track of things, but I gather that this is a very common problem...


Still, the necessary training is provided, more or less...

/Claes

[RCBeyette]

Originally Posted by WALLACE

Is training given a high rank of importance in your organization?
Or do you fly by the seat of your pants?
Wallace.

Yes and yes.

Are you talking internal training, external training, or both?

From a safety standpoint and due diligence, training is an inherent part of my company.

Part of our foundation to our Business Management System is something called "Basic Values and Beliefs". In that, our Management (here in Cambridge and at all of our South American facilities) is a firm believer that happy people make for happy workers. Happy workers tend to be safer workers, too. Personnel development and professional development are strong encouraged.

Our internal training programme is very regimented. Training plans are developed for all new and transferred employees, with set deadlines for completion. If the deadline is not met, the supervisor is asked to provide reasons for the incomplete training...especially on safety related issues.

We have internally developed training modules, viewed prior to on-the-job training.

"One Point Lessons" are developed after an abnormality has occured. A simple one slide presentation highlighting on aspect of a task/job...showing the wrong way and the right way to complete it.

[Rob Nix]

We have specific training FOR flying by the seat of your pants (VFR* only), in fact, our entire management team are certifiable pilots!

*VFR = Visual Flight Rules. They can't read instruments anyway.

[Cari Spears]

Originally Posted by Rob Nix

We have specific training FOR flying by the seat of your pants (VFR* only), in fact, our entire management team are certifiable pilots!

*VFR = Visual Flight Rules. They can't read instruments anyway.

LMBO!! "VFR"

[Al Dyer]

Very many organizations extoll the benefits of training and have impressive intitial training programs in place. The shortfall usually comes in some type of follow-up training or training validation process.

Training is great for redundant processes such as machining, computing, maintenance etc... But training in disciplines that require abstract thought and usually not daily use of the training in question can be a time waster unless there is a fully guided backup-up training or continuing orientation process.

Al...

[Claes Gefvenberg]

Originally Posted by Rob Nix

We have specific training FOR flying by the seat of your pants (VFR* only), in fact, our entire management team are certifiable pilots! .

Great analogy. Of course, the real problem becomes apparent when people try to go VFR under IFR conditions and with no IFR training... Ouch!



/Claes

[Jennifer Kirley]

Originally Posted by Al Dyer

Very many organizations extoll the benefits of training and have impressive intitial training programs in place. The shortfall usually comes in some type of follow-up training or training validation process.

Training is great for redundant processes such as machining, computing, maintenance etc... But training in disciplines that require abstract thought and usually not daily use of the training in question can be a time waster unless there is a fully guided backup-up training or continuing orientation process.

Al...

Very true. As a quality engineer with a teaching degree I can clearly see how important it is to note continuous progress in behaviors and personal skills, which is growing exponentially more important as our business world moves toward services. The education system understands that behavior change occurs over a long time, and has developed ways to track its progress.

Yet the Management By Objective concept is very strong in business, where training is treated like a chore that starts and stops on a schedule; measuring effectiveness is not easy, especially for small businesses headed by people without advanced business training.

Human Resource people have developed ways to measure performance change tied to training programs. I think I will develop a kit to offer as a product.

Jennifer