Types of Training (HL IB Business Management)

• Businesses need to make sure that new and existing staff are trained and developed appropriately
• • Training is the teaching of new skills
  • Development is the improvement of existing skills
     

•  A well-trained workforce is important for several reasons
  • Well-trained staff are likely to be more productive
  • Staff may feel valued if a business invests in training and development
  • Staff are more likely to be flexible and resilient in the face of change
     

Reasons for training and development

 

•  Well-trained employees are likely to be motivated because they recognise that their employer is spending money on their development
   
• Motivation theory suggests that employees work more enthusiastically at the things they’re good at 
  • if employees are trained in managing quality they are more likely to think about how to improve the standard of the goods they produce
     

• If motivation is improved through better training labour retention is also likely to increase
  • If an employee feels they’re becoming better at their job they are far more likely to stay with the business even if another employee is offering higher rates of pay because they want to keep developing in the job they have

• Different types of training have their advantages and disadvantages for the business
  
  

Three common types of training that businesses put their new employees through

 

Induction training

• Induction training is a type of training that new employees receive when they start working for a company

Common elements of induction training

• It introduces them to the company, its culture, policies, procedures, and their job roles and responsibilities
  • E.g. when new employee joins Marks & Spencer they receive induction training that covers customer service, product knowledge, store policies, and safety procedures
     

The Advantages & Disadvantages of Induction Training

Advantages	Disadvantages
Helps new employees to understand their job roles and responsibilities Introduces employees to the company culture, policies, and procedures Improves employee confidence and motivation Reduces the time taken for new employees to become productive	Can be time-consuming and expensive to organise May not cover all aspects of the job role May not be effective in all cases, leading to employee dissatisfaction and higher turnover rates

 

On the job training

• A type of training that takes place while employees are working in their job roles
   
• It allows employees to learn new skills and knowledge from colleagues while performing their job duties
  • E.g. A sous chef at The Ivy Restaurant in York may receive on-the-job training from the Chef to learn how to prepare new dishes, use new equipment, or improve their cooking techniques
     

The Advantages & Disadvantages of On the Job Training

Advantages	Disadvantages
Employees learn new skills and knowledge while performing their job duties Training is tailored to the employee's specific job role and responsibilities Training is often more practical and relevant to the employee's job duties Can be cost-effective as it takes place during working hours	Employees may make mistakes while learning, which can impact productivity and quality Can be disruptive to the workplace as it requires the trainer to devote time to training the employee May not be effective in all cases, leading to employee dissatisfaction and higher turnover rates

 
Off the job training

• A type of training that takes place outside of the workplace
   
• It can be in the form of workshops, seminars, conferences, or online courses
  • E.g. Teachers can attend exam board training days at which they learn how to better teach the syllabus and help their students to prepare for their exams
     

The Advantages & Disadvantages of Off-the-Job Training

Advantages	Disadvantages
Employees learn new skills and knowledge outside of the workplace, which can bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the workplace Training can be tailored to the employee's specific needs and interests Training can be used as a reward or incentive for high-performing employees Can be cost-effective if training is provided online or through webinars	Can be expensive to organise, especially if travel and accommodation are required Employees may miss work while attending training, which can impact productivity The training may not be directly applicable to the employee's job role or the needs of the firm