Human Resource Management

2519 Words6 Pages

Training and development is said to be beneficial for both firms and employees. Why then are some organisations and individuals reluctant to invest in training?

This essay attempts to understand the benefits of training for firms and employees and why some organisations and individuals are unwilling to invest in training. The essay will define training and development, identify four types of training, discuss the advantages of training for firms and employees and discuss the reluctance of both individuals and organisations to training.

There are multiple definitions for training and development depicted in several literatures, which define both factors as singular entities which operate independently. There is thus a clear distinction made between training and development which is outlined in further detail below.

Grugulis (2007) suggests, training and development can take place over the course of many years or can occur in a day; it may involve the introduction of a worker to an organisation, it’s health and safety practices; a break for workers in an organisation that are excluded from the more flexible or perhaps dull tasks.

Training is often considered as an increase in the effectiveness of employees in their position at a specific period in time while development occurs to improve the skills of employees over a long period of time; it’s an ongoing practice that is enhanced by one-off events like training which is compatible with the organisation’s future strategy (McDowall & Saunders, 2010).

According to the Chartered Institute of Personal Development (CIPD, 2010) training is defined as ‘an instructor-led and content-based intervention, leading to desired changes in behaviour’ and development is ‘a longer process of...

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...over time that will enhance employees’ skills and performance and for the organisation, it will raise their reputation and reduce employee turnover.

In conclusion, training and development is important for both firms and their employees and the benefits of training outweigh the reasons behind both parties reluctance to training. Employees, whose skills are under-utilised and undervalued by their employers, need to notify their employers about the issue at an appraisal session. Before getting involved in training, I suggest employers identify a need for it in their organisations and view it as a solution to their problems. Employers should not put off training because it’s difficult to measure the effects instead, employees should view training as an investment and use performance appraisal to measure the effects of training and monitor their employees progress.

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