Topic 22 - Training and Development

Question 1

Training

Answer 1

Advantages:
- Improves quality of product/service
- Staff are motivated
- Reduces workplace accidents
- Can attract high quality staff
- Can develop skills to cope with change

Disadvantages:
- Expensive
- Loss of production time
- Staff may leave after being trained
- Staff may command high wages

Question 2

Corporate Training Scheme

Answer 2

Training programmes offered by a business to its employees.

Advantages:
- Employees develop their skills and expertise
- Staff are motivated
- Increased job satisfaction and commitment to the business

Disadvantages:
- Loss of production time
- Expensive
-Have to pay staff more after training

Question 3

Graduate Training Scheme

Answer 3

Training programmes offered by a business to university graduates.

Advantages:
- Gains new people with fresh ideas and up-to-date theoretical knowledge
- Graduates gain the necessary skills required to work in the organisation
- Attractive salary and promotional opportunities are motivational
- Can lead to a full time position

Disadvantages:
- No guarantee of job at the end
- Need to pay higher salaries
- Time consuming
- Graduate may leave after training

Question 4

Work-Based Qualifications

Answer 4

Employees gain formal qualifications while working.

Advantages:
- Employees gain a recognised qualification
- Employees contribute to the business while training
- Employees are paid which is motivational
- Training is designed to suit the business’s needs
- Training takes place in the workplace which saves costs

Disadvantages:
- Staff may leave after gaining their qualification
- Expensive
- Time consuming

Question 5

Appraisals

Answer 5

Advantages:
- Positive feedback can be given which motivates the employee
- Targets can be set which gives the employee a goal to work towards
- Training needs can be identified
- Pay rises and bonuses can be awarded after a successful appraisal
- Employees can be identified for promotion
- Strong relationships are formed between managers and employees

Disadvantages:
- Negative feedback can be given which demotivates the employee
- Employees may be set unrealistic targets which puts them under pressure
- Too many development needs may ne identified which may stress the employee
- Some employees may resent the appraisal system
- Time consuming
- Loss of production time

Question 6

One-to-One Appraisal

Answer 6

A one-to-one meeting between and employee and their manager.

Advantages:
- Targets can be set about future performance
- Training needs are identified
- Review and discussion about previous performance takes place

Question 7

Peer Appraisal

Answer 7

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

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

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

Question 8

360-degree Appraisal

Answer 8

Fellow employees, supervisors and subordinates are interviewed about the performance of the employee.

Advantages:
- Those involved answer the same questions, allowing for comparison
- Different viewpoints allow for a complete profile of the employee to be gained
- Areas of subjectivity are measured

Disadvantages:
- Employees may find it difficult to be critical of colleagues
- Time constraints can limit the quality of responses