LEARNING CURVES

INCREASING RETURNS LEARNING CURVE

 TOWARDS A
DEFINITION
Learning curves in human resource development refer to the process of acquiring knowledge,
skills, and abilities (KSAs) over time through training and development programs. These curves
represent the relationship between learning or performance and experience, showing the rate
at which individuals, teams, or organizations learn and improve.
In human resource development, learning curves are used to:
1. Assess the effectiveness of training programs: By
analyzing learning curves, HR professionals can
determine if training programs are adequately
enhancing the desired KSAs and performance
levels. If the learning curve is steep, it indicates that
the training is effective and individuals are learning
quickly.
Plan future training and development initiatives: HR
professionals use learning curves to determine the time
and resources required to bring individuals or teams up to
a desired performance level.
INCREASING
RETURNS LEARNING
CURVE
a) Increasing returns learning curve: This type of learning curve shows that as the experience or
time spent on learning something increases, the rate of learning also increases. It means that the
more practice or exposure a person has to a particular task or skill, the faster and more efficient
they become in performing it. As the learning curve progresses, the rate of improvement
accelerates, resulting in increasing returns. It is called an increasing returns learning curve
because the returns or outcomes of learning increase as more time and effort are invested.
 THE S-CURVE
b) The S-curve/ Sigmoid curve: This type of learning curve is shaped like an "S" and represents the
rate of learning as it starts slow, accelerates, and then levels off. At the beginning of the learning
process, there might be a slow rate of improvement as the learner is just beginning to understand
and grasp the concepts or skills. As they gain more experience and knowledge, the rate of learning
speeds up, resulting in a steep increase in performance. However, as the learner approaches mastery
or reaches the peak of their potential, the rate of improvement levels off, indicating that further gains
in learning become slower and harder to achieve. The S-curve is called so because of its sigmoid
shape, resembling the letter "S".