Chapter 8

Question 1

What is the strategic importance of training and developing a competitive workforce

Answer 1

The best competitors use training and development practices to improve the ability of the workforce to implement the firm’s business strategy. Training and development activities also contribute to organizational success less directly. These activities can also be a means for employers to address employees’ needs.

Question 2

community-of-practice

Answer 2

a social network of people who share a common interest and who are committed to collaborating on projects related to their shared interest

Question 3

Explain how training and development practices are shaped by other aspects of the HRM system

Answer 3

In an integrated HRM system, training and development activities are designed to ensure legal compliance, are informed by job analysis and competency models, and are aligned with HR planning as well as with recruitment and selection practices

Question 4

training

Answer 4

improving performance in the near term and in a specific job by increasing employees’ competencies

Question 5

development

Answer 5

activities intended to improve competencies over a longer period of time in anticipation of the organization’s future needs

Question 6

socialization

Answer 6

teaching employees about the organization’s history, culture, and management practices

Question 7

Describe the roles and responsibilities of the HR Triad in training and developing a competitive workforce

Answer 7

HR professionals take responsibility for identifying the objectives of training and development and the methods of achieving them. Effective training and development require managers to actively participate and employees to capitalize on available training opportunities

Question 8

How are training and development needs determined?

Answer 8

Training and development are most likely to achieve the desired objectives when they are grounds in the results of a needs assessment. A thorough needs assessment includes organizational, job, person, and demographic needs analyses

Question 9

organizational needs analysis

Answer 9

an assessment of short- and long-term training and development needs given the business strategy, company culture, and expected changes in the external environment of the company

Question 10

jobs needs analysis (task needs analysis)

Answer 10

identifies the specific skills, knowledge, and behavior needed to perform the tasks required by present or future jobs

Question 11

person needs analysis

Answer 11

identifies gaps between a person’s current competencies and those identified as being necessary or desirable

Question 12

demographic needs analysis

Answer 12

used to determine the training needs of specific populations of workers

Question 13

What are the key questions to be addressed when designing practices for training and developing a competitive workforce

Answer 13

Designing training and development activities involves deciding who will be training, who will train, where the training will occur, what methods will be used, and how to created the right conditions for learning

Question 14

What are the three types of learning objectives for training or development activities

Answer 14

Training and development activities should have content that is congruent with the learning objectives. Typical learning objectives include improving cognitive knowledge, developing employees’ skills, influencing affective responses, and encouraging ethical behavior

Question 15

orientation program

Answer 15

briefs new employees on the benefits and services offered to them, advise them of rules and regulations, and explain the policies and practices of the organization

Question 16

emotional intelligence

Answer 16

Involves recognizing and regulating emotions in ourselves and in others, and it includes self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management

Question 17

Describe the different formats that can be used for training development activities

Answer 17

Program formats available to employers include e-learning, on the job training, apprenticeship, developmental job assignments, mentoring and offsite training.

Question 18

e-learning

Answer 18

Those technologies used for training and development activities, including web-based learning, virtual classrooms, computerized learning modules, interactive TV, satellite broadcasts, etc

Question 19

On-the-job training

Answer 19

occurs when employees learn their jobs under direct supervision

Question 20

job rotation programs

Answer 20

involve rotating employees through positions at a similar level of difficulty to train them in a variety of tasks and decision-making situations

Question 21

developmental job assignments

Answer 21

those assignments that place employees in jobs that present difficult new challenges and hurdles that ‘stretch’ the employee to learn more

Question 22

formal mentoring

Answer 22

an established employee guides the development of a less experienced worker or protege

Question 23

personal coaches

Answer 23

typically observe the employee in action and then provide feedback and guidance for how that employee can improve her or his interaction skills in the future

Question 24

interactive video training

Answer 24

these programs present a short video and narrative presentation and then require the trainee to respond

Question 25

training transfer

Answer 25

employees can readily apply the knowledge and skills learning during training to their work

Question 26

simulations

Answer 26

present situations that are similar to actual job conditions and allow trainees to practice how to behave in those circumstances

Question 27

How can conditions be created to maximize learning during training or development

Answer 27

It is important to take time to set the stage for learning, to create conditions that will maximize learning during the program, and to provide conditions that will maintain performance in the long term

Question 28

behavioral modeling

Answer 28

describing the behaviors to be learned to trainees, having a role model provide a visual demonstration of the desired behaviors, allowing the trainees to imitate the desired behaviors and giving feedback

Question 29

reinforcement

Answer 29

a consequence that follows behavior

Question 30

Explain three main goals of team training and development programs

Answer 30

The three main goals of team training programs are to develop team cohesiveness, effective team procedures, and work team leaders

Question 31

What are two current issues in training and development

Answer 31

In the U.S., diversity training aims to help employees understand each other’s ethnic backgrounds and cultures and to develop the competencies they need to work together effectively. For firms with international operations, developing the ability of managers to lead effectively in a multinational environment is an important objective of global leadership and development policies and procedures.