Effective Training Strategies Systems and Practices Chapter Two

Effective Training: Strategies, Systems and Practices Chapter Two P. Nick Blanchard and James W. Thacker

Linkage between Strategy, Tactics, and Objectives Competitive Strategy • Mission • Opportunities • Threats • Strengths • Weaknesses Tactical Activities Unit Objectives Unit Strategies and Tactics Employee Objective Implementation, Evaluation, and Feedback Chapter 2 2

Competitive Strategies n n Market leader – innovation, development, move quickly to market Cost leader – low cost, product acceptable – defender strategy Chapter 2 3

Factors Influencing Environmental Stability Complexity S T A B I L I T Y High Low High Moderate Uncertainty Low High Uncertainty Moderate Uncertainty Chapter 2 4

Mission, Strategy, Technology, Structure Relationship Chapter 2 5

Conditions Increasing the Importance of HR Issues – Part 1 of 2 High rate of change in market demand Requires employees who can develop or adapt products and services quickly High level of uncertainty in market demand Requires employees who can forecast more accurately and react more flexibly Rising costs combined with competitive pressures on profit margins Requires employees with wider range of KSAs so fewer people can do more things well High rate of technological change Requires employees who are more technologically literate and current Chapter 2 6

Conditions Increasing the Importance of HR Issues – Part 2 of 2 More complex organizations (number and type of products, technologies, locations, customers, etc. ) Requires employees who can process and analyze complex information from a variety of sources More diverse labor Requires employees who can interact effectively in many cultural and ethnic contexts Smaller labor pool Requires more effective use of existing employees and better recruiting of new employees Chapter 2 7

Relationship between Competitive and Human Resource Strategies External Environment COMPETITIVE STRATEGY Labor Market Core Technology Legal Environment HUMAN RESOURCE STRATEGY Economic Conditions Labor Relations Climate Chapter 2 Competition 8

Strategic Goals for HRD n n HRD is in the business of supporting the organization’s strategic goals and strategies Provides key information, develops HRD strategies and ensure employees have competencies to meet strategic performance demands Chapter 2 9

Steps in a Generic Planned Change Model – Part 1 of 2 1. A compelling need for change is established. 2. Goals are developed and agreed to by the concerned parties. 3. The cause of the need for change is determined 4. Alternative approaches for addressing the cause are identified and evaluated. 5. An approach to addressing the cause is selected. 6. The approach is carried out. Chapter 2 10

Steps in a Generic Planned Change Model – Part 2 of 2 7. The results of the approach are evaluated. 8. The results are fed back to the organization. • If results are favorable, go to step 9. • If results are unfavorable, go back to step 4. 9. The change becomes internalized. The changes that have been made become routine and normal ways the organization conducts its business. Chapter 2 11

Change Process Theory n n n Unfreezing – creating need for change, guilt, anxiety, recognize problem exists Changing – change behavior, values, attitudes through change process Refreezing –use goals and rewards to establish new behaviors and attitudes to replace old ones Chapter 2 12

Force-field analysis model Driving Forces Current Situation Restraining Forces 1. Identify the current state of the situation. 2. Envision the desired state. 3. Identify the forces restraining change. 4. Identify the forces that support or encourage change. 5. Assess the strength of the forces. 6. Develop strategies to: reduce the forces restraining change increase the forces for change (or capitalize on existing drivers). Chapter 2 13

Sources of Resistance to Change n n n Fear – tolerance for uncertainty Vested interests Misunderstandings Assessments of impact of change – different viewpoints Inter-organizational agreements – union contracts Chapter 2 14

Reducing Resistance to Change n n n Education and communication Participation and involvement Negotiations – power of resisters Cooptation Top management support Chapter 2 15

Process Interventions n Survey feedback n n Organizational variables to measure Design and implementation of survey Presentation of results Team building n n n Preliminary diagnosis for need Change agent with wide range of knowledge Change manager and agent should develop general approach to sessions. Chapter 2 16

Technostructural Interventions n n Job enlargement Job enrichment – Job Characteristics Model n n Greater effect on productivity Alternative work schedules n n n Moderate effect on work output Withdrawal Effects on attitudes Chapter 2 17

Hackman & Oldham Job-Enrichment Model Growth Need Strength Five Job Characteristics Skill variety Task identity Task significance Autonomy Feedback Three Critical Psychological States Experienced meaningfulness of work Experienced responsibility for work outcomes Knowledge of actual work results Personal and Work Outcomes High internal work motivation High quality work performance Chapter 2 High satisfaction with the work Low absenteeism and turnover 18

Strategic Training Alternatives n n n Internal provider – larger numbers of trainees, large training department – centralized vs. decentralized Outsourcing - Manager/intermediary – selection and management of outside providers Mixed strategy Chapter 2 19

Questions to Assess Training Provider Capabilities – Part 1 of 2 What is their background (education, experience, etc. )? Have they ever provided these particular training programs or services before? Have they conducted formal evaluations of their results? If so, what have been the results? Can they give you the names of people in these companies who could speak knowledgeably about the trainer’s products and services? Can they give you names of those who were recipients of the service and those who brought the training provider into the organization and oversaw the training or the service? Chapter 2 20

Questions to Assess Training Provider Capabilities – Part 2 of 2 Can they provide an outline of their approach and/or process? How do they go about developing a program, delivering training, or providing a training service? If they are providing training they have already developed, can they show you materials, such as handouts, exercises, and videos? Since these are not specific to your organization, how will they alter them to make them appropriate for your situation? Chapter 2 21

Questions for the Strategic Planning Process in a Small Business 1. Why are we in business? 2. What are we trying to achieve? 3. Who is our competition and how can we beat them? 4. What sort of ground rules should we be following to get the job done right? 5. How should we organize ourselves to reach our goals and beat the competition? 6. How much detail do we need to provide so everyone knows what to do? 7. What are the few key things that will determine if we make it? How should we keep track of them? Chapter 2 22