Deck 2: Strategic Training

Question 1

How would you expect the training activities of a company that is dominant in its product market to differ from those of a company that emphasizes research and development?

Answer 1

INTRODUCTION:
Training process of an organization depends on various factors. To establish a need analysis is key step for training process.
Companies have different strategies for their training process. Some companies encourage training in the field of product market. Training is provided in the product market to increase its sell. It catches the buyer's attention and sells the product.
There are some companies that put more effort in training in the field of research and development. This type of training put efforts on raising the quality of the product and reducing the price.
Training activities of both the companies would be different from each other. In training process the main focus is put on customer service as well as product efficiency. Customer satisfaction is very important. Product knowledge helps in improvement of services.
Companies does research and develops new technology to improve the quality and trend of the product.
Employees of the company should have deep and core knowledge of the product so that they can explain it properly to the customer and enhance their selling.
Training activities of companies that focuses in product market are different from the companies that emphasize research and development. One focuses in product knowledge and customers while the other focuses on research of new technologies.

Question 2

What do you think is the most important organizational characteristic that influences training? Why?

Answer 2

INTRODUCTION:
Organizational analysis is very important for any business. It determines appropriate training and set up proper business strategies and effective business management.
All organizational characteristics by either ways influence training process. Hence, all are important.
COMPANY'S BUSINESS STRATEGY can be regarded as the most important factor. In the business strategy almost each and every concern of business is discussed. It is important because here the mission, aim and objectives are planned.
Apart from the business strategy other factors are also very important. Such as:
* Top management support
* Role of managers
* Staff involvement in training and development
With the combine execution of all characteristics proper and accurate training can be provided.

Question 3

Which model or combination of models is best for organizing the training function? Why?

Answer 3

There are different model of organizing training program. Understanding these models will help to know the consequences of how organization's training department has impact business strategies.
Faculty model, Customer model, matrix model, corporate university model and business embedded model are five models available to organize the training programs.
1. Faculty model - This training model is similar to college structure model where department is headed by the director with experts in specialized knowledge. The responsibility of developing, administering and updating training programs is on experts.
• Advantages of this model are mentioned as below -
- Experts in training program based on their specialized knowledge
- Training plans are established by expert staff
• Disadvantages of this model are mentioned as below -
- Training program created by experts may not meet requirements of the training needs.
- Trainers may be uninformed about current business problems or may not be willing to acquire training material to fulfill the needs of training.
- Lack of meaningful course contents
- Demotivated trainers
- Skill and knowledge of expert not matching with the training needs
2. Customer model - These models are designed based on training needs of division or function of the concerned company. In this model, training programs are developed based on the need of training of particular function instead of training expert's opinion. Hence, the major disadvantage of faculty model is overcome in this model.
• Advantages of this model are mentioned as below -
- Meaningful content and material will be provided to trainees.
- Trainers may invite outside experts if in case, training content is not available inside the company.
• Disadvantages of this model are mentioned as below -
- Trainer needs to spend required time period for learning the business
- Customer may develop larger programs which contains similar topics
- Not useful for those trainers who considers teaching and presentation as a prime function.
- Course model may be poor in design perspective.
3. Matrix model - In this model trainer will report to both manager of his function or depart as well as manager of his training program. Hence, in this model trainer has work as both functional expert as well as training expert.
• Advantages of this model are mentioned as below -
- Model ensures that training program is linked with business needs
- Trainer understands specific business function and gets expertise in it.
• Disadvantages of this model are mentioned as below -
- As trainers reports to two managers; there may be more time demands and might be more conflicts.
4. Corporate University model - In this model, clients groups not only includes employees and managers but also includes stakeholders. It also offers broad range of programs and courses than other models. Cultures and values are also emphasized through training programs of this model. It develops consistent training policies and practices which help to control costs of the company.
5. Business embedded model - This model consists of five competencies namely; product design, product delivery, structural versatility, strategic direction and accountability for result. In this model all the people who are involved in training program can communicate and share the available resources with each other. The number trainers in this model depend upon the demand for product or services.
Among all the available models of training Business Embedded model is best model for organizing a training function. Reasons behind business embedded model as best for organizing training function are as discussed below -
• Business Embedded model is customer oriented in a sense that, this model provides and delivers training programs based on the customer needs.
• This model takes more responsibility of learning through training and evaluation of these learning programs.
• One more advantage of using this Business Embedded model is, all the people involved in training program shares and communicates resources.
• Instead of providing training program based on experts specialization, this model focuses that, all the trainers are working together and ensure that training is properly delivered.
• Trainers are not only related or involved till program delivery, they also works as training consultants and provide various training related services to trainers.
Hence, Business Embedded model should be used for organizing a training function as it is more efficient than all other training models.

Question 4

Sheming-Plough HealthCare Products Inc decided several years ago to expand its product lines by developing pocket-size stick and sprays of coppertone sunblocks, previously only available as a lotion packaged in squeeze bottles. The company placed a strategic emphasis on developing markets for this product. The company knew from market research studies that its coppertone customers were already using the product in its original squeeze container to prevent sun burn. Due to increased awareness of the dangers of excessive skin exposure, customers who had not previously used sunblock except when at the beach, were looking for a daily sunblock product. Company managers reasoned that their market could be expanded significantly if the product were repackaged to fit conveniently in consumers' pockets, purses, and gum bags. Identify the business strategy. What training needs result from this strategy? What are the training implications of this decision for (1) manufacturing and (2) the sales force?

Question 5

Which strategic training and development initiatives do you think all companies should support in today's economic climate? Why?

Question 6

Are any of the strategic training and development initiatives more important for small business? Explain.

Question 7

Evaluate Nextel Communications training organization using the five competencies of the business-embedded model. Would you consider Nextel Communications training organization to be a BE training function?

Question 8

Compare and contrast the corporate university model with the faculty model. How are they similar? How do they differ?

Question 9

What is human capital? How is human capital influencing the changing role of training from skill and knowledge acquisition to creating and sharing knowledge?

Question 10

How could SWOT analysis be used to align training activities with business strategies and goals?

Question 11

What are the training implications of the increased use of teams to manufacture products or provide services?

Question 12

How would you design a corporate university? Explain each step you would take.

Question 13

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a centralized training function?

Question 14

What factors should a company consider in deciding whether to outsource its entire training function? Are the considerations different if the company wants to outsource a training program? Explain.