Training and development

Question 1

What is training?

Answer 1

Training means to improve the skills knowledge of staff within an organisation.

Question 2

What are the advantage of training?

Answer 2

• It helps to improve the quality of products/services as employees have better skills.
• It is motivational for staff as it makes them more confident to do their job and they feel the business is interested in developing them.
• It can be used to develop skills to cope with change in an organisation, such as the introduction of new technology.
• It reduces the number of workplace accidents since staff are more aware of procedures.
• A good training programme can attract high-quality staff.

Question 3

What are the disadvantages of training?

Answer 3

• It can be costly to an organisation if outside training centres or trainers are used.
• It can lead to lost production time.
• Staff may leave after trained.
• Staff may be in a position to command higher wages once better skilled.

Question 4

Ways of training staff - What is corporate training schemes?

Answer 4

These are intense programmes of training that will equip staff with enhanced skills so they are in a good position either for pay rise or for a promotion, for example, through a management training scheme.

Question 5

What are the advantages of corporate training schemes?

Answer 5

• The organisation benefits from highly skilled staff.
• Staff are motivated which lowers staff turnover.

Question 6

What are the disadvantages of corporate training schemes?

Answer 6

• Work time can be lost throughout the training.
• The organisation will have to pay staff more after training is complete.

Question 7

What is graduate training scheme?

Answer 7

These are offered to university graduates who typically attain a 2.1 (university of ‘B’) or above. Graduates are given an attractive starting salary and placed on an intense one-to-three-year period of a mixture of work-based training and learning on the job at training centres.

Question 8

What are the advantages of graduate training schemes?

Answer 8

• Graduates are raw talent that can be moulded to learn the skills and knowledge specific to the industry/business.
• The attractive salary, benefits and promotion opportunities are motivational to graduates.
• Successful completion of the programme can lead to a full-time position.

Question 9

What are the disadvantages of graduate training schemes?

Answer 9

• Graduates command higher salaries than staff without degrees.
• The scheme often have to unpick irrelevant university knowledge and re-teach ‘real world’ business.
• Not all graduates on the programme are guaranteed full-time jobs, increasing staff turnover and impacting on morale.

Question 10

What are work-based qualifications?

Answer 10

When staff are offered the chance to gain formal qualifications while working. In Scotland, many of the qualifications are based on SVQ framework. This qualification can be achieved through an apprenticeship.

Question 11

What are the advantages of work-based qualifications?

Answer 11

• Employees gain a recognised qualification and learn through practical applications of their learning.
• Employees can contribute to the organisation while training.
• Employees are paid during training which can be motivational.

Question 12

What are the disadvantage of work-based qualifications?

Answer 12

• Staff may leave for a better job after gaining their qualification.
• Organisations usually pay for the training and examinations.
• It can be costly to pay for staff to train.

Question 13

What is an appraisal?

Answer 13

This is a two-way meeting between an employee and another member of staff to discuss the employee’s performance and to set targets for the future.

Question 14

What are the advantages of appraisal?

Answer 14

• Positive feedback can be given which can motivate the employee.
• Targets will be set for the employee which motivates them and gives them a goal to work towards.
• Training needs can be identified which can motivate staff and increase quality standards.
• Pay rises and bonuses can be awarded after a successful appraisal which will motivate staff and ensure their work rates improves further.
• Employees can be identified for promotion, which will increase their loyalty to the organisation.
• Strong relationships are formed between managers and employees as they are given the opportunity to have a professional discussion.

Question 15

What are the disadvantages of appraisal?

Answer 15

• Negative feedback can be given which demotivates employees.
• An employee might be set an unrealistic target which puts them under pressure.
• Too many development needs can be identified which will stress the employee.
• Some employees resent the appraisal system. They feel under pressure and as if they are being checked up on.
• Appraisals are time-consuming to carry out which will result in lost work time during the time they are being conducted.

Question 16

What are peer appraisals?

Answer 16

This is when the review interview is carried out by a colleague at the same level in the organisation as the employee.

Question 17

What are the advantages of peer appraisal?

Answer 17

• Employees may relax more and react better to a review given by a colleague.
• Relationships with line managers are not harmed through judgements or weaknesses being highlighted.

Question 18

What are the disadvantages of peer appraisal?

Answer 18

• Personal relationships between peers could result in the appraisal being ineffective.
• Bias could wrongly highlight an employee for a pay rise or promotion.

Question 19

What is a 360-degree appraisal?

Answer 19

This refers to whoever conducts the appraisal, such as an HR manager, peer, or line manager, interviews fellow employees, supervisors, and subordinates about the performance of the employee.

Question 20

What are the advantages of 360-degree appraisal?

Answer 20

• A complete profile of the employee is gained.
• Areas of subjectivity, such as character and leadership skills are measured.

Question 21

What are the disadvantages of 360-degree appraisal?

Answer 21

• Some employees may find it difficult to be critical of their colleagues.
• Time constraints can limit the quality of responses from so many people in the organisation.