Training is a worthwhile investment when planned and executed properly. An organization should train to their goals, strategies, and competencies desired in employees. Training is more than instructing others to mimic the steps necessary to complete a task or process. It provides skills necessary to think and react to anomalies that may occur throughout the process of completing the task.
With continuous training, employees can develop new skills, refine current skills, and adapt to changing environments. This helps the company remain competitive and potentially reduce lay-offs in an ever-changing environment.
To execute training properly, a systematic approach using ADDIE or similar method should be used. ADDIE is an acronym for Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate. Special attention should be placed on the analyze phase to ensure both the learners and business' needs are met. Another commonly overlooked phase is the evaluation of training. In it, the questions of: are the learners able to apply the knowledge and lessons taught, is the training relevant to the current needs, and does the training support the business long-term and short-term needs should be asked.
As you can tell, training is a complex process that helps businesses remain competitive and obtain their goals.
