Running Head: The Importance of Training and Development 1

The Importance of Training and Development

Cynthia Sanchez

University of Central Oklahoma

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The Importance of Training and Development

Training and development are a vital part of Human Resources when they are enforced

properly and efficiently. Organizational policies and duties are always changing and evolving to

match competition or stay up to date with customer needs. Due to these consistent changes, it is

important to ensure that employees’ skills, abilities, and knowledge levels remain regularly

updated. In addition, employees will need the proper guidance and tools to achieve these

organizational goals effectively. As a result, there are various ways training and development can

improve an organization’s overall efficiency such as organizational performance, productivity,

and preparation for career growth. Karmen Blackwood emphasized a similar point of view in her

article “Essential Not Optional: Why Employee Training & Development Matters,” which points

out that employees are an organizations biggest assets that contribute to company success.

Karmen also stresses a couple key methods of how to overcome organizational competition, “In

this increasingly competitive global marketplace, the organizations who invest in employee

training and development are the ones who will win” (Blackwood, 2014). Overall, implementing

methods of training and development in organizations can have long lasting advantages that have

a positive impact on the organization’s goals.

Effective training has the potential to obtain higher organizational performance by retaining

qualified talented employees. Properly planned methods of training and development can prove

to be beneficial for organizations because it can help employees obtain job-related knowledge,

skills, abilities, and behaviors that could expand employees qualifications onto their job duties.

That being said, training can have an impact on employees to perform their jobs efficiently with

the proper guidance and tools. Gary Lear, President and CEO of Resource Development systems,

firmly stated that organizations could have an advantage of retaining the employees that obtained
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new or improved skills that were provided in training. In addition, Lear (2010) stated the

importance of how training should mimic real life workplace environment, “Support systems

must be developed that encourages the employee to actually use what they have learned”. Lear

also strongly emphasized that the effects of a proper training program could increase job

performance, “First off, training does provide a major impact on the ability of employees to

perform their jobs well, thus driving organization performance” (2010). Once employees are

given clear objectives through proper training, as well as what is expected of them in their job

role, they will be able to complete tasks effectively and efficiently. As a result, this can

strengthen employee job performance, which would raise organizational performance as well.

There are a few ways training can specifically boost productivity such as continuously updating

methods and processes in order to improve communication, employee skills, and knowledge. Dr.

John Sullivan, an HR thought leader and prolific author, strongly emphasized the importance of

maintaining a continuous training process, “Global competition has created a rapid pace of

change which means that current skill sets must be continually updated”. Effective

communication through training can also give employees clear objectives of what type of role is

expected of them, which would instill confidence to enhance their work and raise productive

levels. Sullivan explained that poor communication in training programs would actually lower

productivity, “Failing to provide effective communication can lead to wasted efforts, increased

error rates, and lower productivity,” (2011). In addition, Sullivan explained management plays

an important leadership role in order to ensure proper communication efforts, “Leaders and

managers play a critical role in defining the direction, purpose, priorities, goals, and roles of the

workforce,” further emphasizing the importance of proper direction in training implementation

(2011). By implementing a strategic system of employee training, organizations would be able to

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maintain knowledgeable and satisfied employees, which can increase the optimal level of

productivity for organizations.

Employees will also tend to feel more engaged in their work and fulfill organizational objectives

if they feel their employer presents and prepares them for opportunities of career growth.

Organizations may not be able to enforce ambition upon employees to advance, but career

programs and support from within the industry can certainly guide employees down the right

career path. According to an article posted by the Society of Human Resource Management

(SHRM), “A career development path provides employees with an ongoing mechanism to

enhance their skills and knowledge that can lead to mastery of their current jobs, promotions and

transfers to new or different positions,” which would have a positive impact on the entire

organization as a whole. In addition, SHRM stated how career paths could ensure an

organization's continuing growth and productivity, “Career paths can be effective strategic tools

for achieving positive organizational outcomes by improving morale, career satisfaction,

motivation, and productivity” (2015). There are various development methods that can

contribute to employee and organizational growth much like career counseling. Robert Merchant

found that career counseling served as an important foundation to implement in an organization,

“It allows employees the opportunity to recognize, define, and redefine their goals during the

course of their careers. Conversely, it will afford management the opportunity to further assess

employee needs to achieve a balance with those of the organization”. Merchant’s statement

correlates strongly with how career counseling impacts employee goals to align with the

organizations goals as well, “Career counseling has evolved because many organizations now

realize that most employees cannot begin to manage their own growth and development without

first having information on how their own needs match those of the organization” (2008).
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In conclusion, the methods and guidance efforts described are just a few of many that can serve

as important tools an organization can maintain to succeed in competitive markets. In order for

organizations to successfully implement these methods and guidance efforts, employees will

need to be seen as more than exclusive resources, but organizational resources as well.

Implementing methods of training and development in organizations can have long lasting

advantages that have a positive impact on the organization’s goals. As a result, there are various

ways training and development can improve an organization’s overall efficiency such as

organizational performance, productivity, and preparation for career growth. All the employees

will need are proper guidance and tools to achieve these organizational goals effectively.
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References

Blackwood, K. (2014). Essential Not Optional: Why Employee Training & Development

Matters. Canada: Business Vancouver.

Lear, G. (2010). Trainings role in achieving high performance. Journal of Resource Development

system, 21. Retrieved from

http://www.resourcedevelopmentsystems.com/documents/Training%27s%20Role%20in

%20Achieving%20High%20Performance.pdf

Sullivan, D.J. (2011). Increasing Employee Productivity: The Strategic Role That HR Essentially

Ignores. California: ERE Recruiting Intelligence.

Society For Human Resource Management. (2015). Developing Employee Career Paths and

Ladders. Retrieved from https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-

samples/toolkits/pages/developingemployeecareerpathsandladders.aspx

Merchant, R. C., Jr. (2008). The Role of Career Development in Improving Organizational

Effectiveness and Employee Development. Journal of Research Gate, 17.