Lesson 13: Training Programs

Question 1

What are the major steps of the instructional systems design (ISD) model of training and development?

Answer 1

Needs analysis, training objectives, training design, training methods, training delivery, transfer of training, and evaluation and costing of training and development programs

Question 2

What is the most provided training content in Canadian organizations?

Answer 2

Management and supervisory skills training.

Question 3

What type of training program is offered by only 12 percent of organizations in Canada?

Answer 3

Basic skills training.

Question 4

What is orientation training?

Answer 4

Orientation training is a program that introduces new employees to their job, the people they will be working with, and the organization. It is a method used by organizations to socialize new employees.

Question 5

What is essential skills training?

Answer 5

Training programs designed to provide employees with the essential skills required to perform their job and adapt to workplace change.

Essential skills are the skills required for work, learning, and life, serving as a foundation for learning other skills and adapting to workplace changes. They include reading text, document use, numeracy, writing, oral communication, working with others, continuous learning, thinking skills, and computer use.

Question 6

What is technical skills training?

Answer 6

Technical skills training is training in specific job-related skills that employees need to perform their jobs. It is particularly important in the manufacturing sector, where employees need to undergo considerable technical skills upgrading and training to keep their jobs and help their organizations survive.

Question 7

What is non-technical skills training?

Answer 7

Non-technical skills training, or “soft” skills training, refers to training in a variety of skills that employees require to work and interact with others, such as communication skills, interpersonal skills, and negotiation skills. These skills have become increasingly important due to changes in organizations, such as flatter structures and the use of work teams.

Question 8

What is information technology training?

Answer 8

Information technology training refers to training in computers and computer systems. It usually involves either introductory computer training programs, where trainees learn about computer hardware and software, or applications training, where trainees are instructed on specific software applications to be used in the organization.Training programs that focus on the use of computers and computer systems.

Question 9

What is computer software training?

Answer 9

Training programs that focus on how to use a specific computer software application.

Question 10

What is health and safety training?

Answer 10

Training programs that educate employees in safe work methods and practices and how to recognize the chemical and physical hazards in the workplace so they are prepared and capable of taking corrective action in the event of an accident.

Question 11

What is total quality management (TQM) training?

Answer 11

Training programs that involve team training and training in the use of statistical tools that are used for problem-solving and decision-making processes.

Question 12

What is team training?

Answer 12

Training programs designed to improve the functioning and effectiveness of teams in areas such as communication and coordination.

Question 13

What is sales training?

Answer 13

Training programs designed to upgrade sales professionals’ skills and help them deal with new competitive challenges.

Question 14

What is customer-service training?

Answer 14

Training programs designed to provide employees with interpersonal and service skills that are required for interacting with customers and for providing quality service.

Question 15

What is sexual and racial harassment training?

Answer 15

Training programs designed to educate employees about sexual and racial harassment and the organization’s policies and procedures regarding sexual and racial harassment.

Question 16

What is ethics training?

Answer 16

Training programs that educate employees about the organization’s values and ethical policies and on making ethical decisions.

Question 17

What is diversity training?

Answer 17

Training programs that focus on differences in values, attitudes, and behaviors of individuals with different backgrounds.

Question 18

What is cross-cultural training?

Answer 18

Training programs that prepare employees for working and living in different cultures and for interactions with persons from different backgrounds.

Question 19

What is health and wellness training?

Answer 19

Training programs that educate employees on how to improve their health and lifestyle.

Question 20

What is mental health training?

Answer 20

Training programs on how to recognize mental health problems and how to provide assistance and support to those experiencing a mental health problem.

Question 21

What are some benefits of effective orientation programs?

Answer 21

Shaping corporate culture, increasing new employees’ speed to proficiency, lowering turnover, and improving customer-service performance, retention, and financial performance.

Question 22

What is the definition of literacy?

Answer 22

Literacy refers to the ability to understand and use printed information in daily activities, at home, at work, and in the community, in order to achieve one’s goals and develop one’s knowledge and potential.

Question 23

What are the reported costs of low literacy levels in Canada?

Answer 23

Low literacy levels cost Canadian businesses $2.5 billion each year in lost productivity and the Canadian economy $80 billion in lost economic opportunities.

Question 24

What are some benefits of essential skills training for organizations?

Answer 24

Improved productivity, efficiency, quality, decreased absenteeism, fewer workers’ compensation claims, and improved cross-cultural communication and morale.

Question 25

What is the return on investment for essential skills training in the accommodation and food services sector, according to a study?

Answer 25

The return on investment for essential skills training in the accommodation and food services sector is an average of 23 percent, with a net benefit of $577 per participant.

Question 26

What percentage of overall training content is devoted to basic skills in Canadian organizations, and what percentage of organizations provide basic skills training?

Answer 26

Only 1 percent of overall training content is devoted to basic skills, and only 12 percent of organizations in Canada provide basic skills training.

Question 27

Why is health and safety training important in Canadian organizations?

Answer 27

Health and safety training is important because workplace accidents and injuries present a serious threat to employees and organizations. It helps prevent accidents by educating employees in safe work methods and practices, and teaches them to recognize chemical and physical hazards in the workplace so they can take corrective action in the event of an accident.

Question 28

What is the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)?

Answer 28

WHMIS is legislation designed to ensure that workers across Canada are aware of potential hazards of chemicals in the workplace and are familiar with emergency procedures for the clean-up and disposal of spills.

An important component of WHMIS is employee training, which helps workers identify hazard symbols, read labels, and apply the information on material safety data sheets (MSDS).

Question 29

What are the most effective training methods for safety training?

Answer 29

The most effective training methods for safety training involve the use of highly engaging instructional methods, such as behavior modeling, simulations, and hands-on training. These methods are more effective for both learning and safety performance than less engaging instructional methods, especially in work situations that involve high exposure to hazardous conditions.

Question 30

What is Total Quality Management (TQM)?

Answer 30

Total Quality Management (TQM) is a systematic process of continual improvement of the quality of products and services. It involves an emphasis on quality, continual improvement, teamwork, and customer focus. TQM training often includes team training and training in the use of statistical tools for problem-solving and decision-making processes.

Question 31

What is the purpose of team training?

Answer 31

The purpose of team training is to improve the functioning and effectiveness of teams in areas such as communication, coordination, mutual performance monitoring, exchange of feedback, and adaptation to varying situational demands. It focuses on task-work skills, which are required to perform the team’s tasks, and teamwork skills, which are needed for team members to interact, communicate, and coordinate tasks effectively with others.

Question 32

What are task-work skills and teamwork skills in team training?

Answer 32

Task-work skills are the skills required to perform the team’s tasks, while teamwork skills are the skills that team members need to interact, communicate, and coordinate tasks effectively with other team members. Both types of skills need to be included in team training programs, and it is recommended that team members first master task-work and technical skills before being trained on teamwork skills.

Question 33

What is crew resource management (CRM) training?

Answer 33

Crew resource management (CRM) training is a specialized type of team training for flight crew teams that focuses on communication and decision-making. It teaches team members to use all available resources—people, information, and equipment—to ensure safe and efficient flight operations.

CRM training improves crew coordination and performance by focusing on critical cognitive and interpersonal skills such as communication, problem-solving, and decision-making.

Question 34

What are some benefits of team training in healthcare and other industries?

Answer 34

Team training has been found to improve team functioning and have positive effects on cognitive outcomes (e.g., declarative knowledge), affective outcomes (e.g., trust), teamwork processes (e.g., communication), and performance outcomes (efficiency and effectiveness).

In healthcare, team training can reduce preventable errors and patient harm, improve organizational outcomes, and enhance patient outcomes such as patient mortality.

In aviation, team training can result in safer air travel. Overall, team training can improve an organization’s bottom line.

Question 35

What is the purpose of sales training?

Answer 35

Sales training programs aim to upgrade sales professionals’ skills and help them deal with new competitive challenges. These programs often emphasize “relationship-based” sales training, where sales professionals are trained to develop strategic and complex relationships with clients, become knowledgeable about their customers’ business needs, and develop customized sales strategies.

Question 36

What is the goal of customer-service training?

Answer 36

The goal of customer-service training is to provide employees with the interpersonal and customer-service skills required for interacting with customers and delivering quality service. The training can be informal or formal, and it should be tailored to an organization’s strategy, characteristics, and customers

Question 37

What are sexual and racial harassment training programs designed to do?

Answer 37

Sexual and racial harassment training programs are designed to educate employees about sexual and racial harassment, inform them about the organization’s policies and procedures regarding harassment, and equip them to handle and prevent such incidents.

Training is crucial because employees and managers may be unaware of what constitutes harassment or the organization’s policies and procedures for reporting and handling it.

Question 38

How can organizations effectively deal with and prevent sexual and racial harassment?

Answer 38

To effectively deal with and prevent sexual and racial harassment, organizations should develop sexual and racial harassment policies, create procedures for filing complaints, and provide sexual and racial harassment training to educate employees about harassment and the organization’s policies and procedures regarding it.

Question 39

What is the importance of having anti-discrimination policies and training in place?

Answer 39

Having anti-discrimination policies and training in place is essential for organizations to create a work environment that is free of sexual and racial harassment.

It helps employees understand their responsibilities and how to respond to racist and discriminatory incidents.

Canadian human rights legislation requires organizations to respond to racist incidents, so organizations need to develop anti-discriminatory policies and procedures and train employees accordingly.

Question 40

What is the purpose of ethics training?

Answer 40

The purpose of ethics training is to educate employees about the organization’s values, ethical policies, and decision-making processes.

It aims to create an ethical culture and workplace, comply with legal mandates, gain liability protection, and attract and retain the right type of employee.

Ethics training programs typically involve opportunities for employees to practice applying company values and its code of ethics to hypothetical situations, helping them recognize ethical dilemmas and respond appropriately.

Question 41

What are the objectives of diversity training programs?

Answer 41

The objectives of diversity training programs are to increase awareness and understanding of cultural diversity, reduce biases and stereotypes, and improve interaction and communication among employees with different backgrounds as well as between employees and the organization’s customers and clients. These programs aim to manage diversity effectively in the workplace.

Question 42

What is cross-cultural training and why is it important?

Answer 42

Cross-cultural training prepares employees for overseas assignments by developing the skills and attitudes they need to interact successfully with individuals from different backgrounds. It is important because it can improve the success rate of overseas assignments, helping employees adjust to new cultures, communicate effectively with locals, and adapt to job demands in foreign countries.

Question 43

What factors influence the degree of cross-cultural training rigour required for a foreign assignment?

Answer 43

The degree of cross-cultural training rigour required for a foreign assignment depends on three dimensions:

cultural toughness (how difficult it is to adjust to a new culture),

communication toughness (the extent to which the expatriate will have to interact with the locals of the host country), and

job toughness (how difficult the tasks will be for the expatriate compared to what they are used to doing).

As the levels of these dimensions increase, the type of cross-cultural training required becomes more rigorous.

Question 44

What are the benefits of implementing health and wellness training programs in the workplace?

Answer 44

Health and wellness training programs educate employees on how to improve their health and lifestyle, promoting and sustaining good employee health, identifying health-related risks in the employee population, and attempting to correct potential health-related problems.

These programs can help reduce the negative effects of unhealthy lifestyles on productivity and absenteeism, and contribute to a healthier and more engaged workforce.

Question 45

Why is mental health training important in the workplace?

Answer 45

Mental health training is important in the workplace because it provides information on how to recognize mental health problems and how to provide assistance and support to those experiencing a mental health problem.

This type of training can help create a more supportive work environment, reduce the costs associated with lost productivity and absenteeism, and address the prevalence of mental health issues as a major cause of short-term and long-term disability claims in Canada.

Question 46

What is the importance of flexibility in delivering mental health training programs?

Answer 46

Flexibility in delivering mental health training programs is essential to address the varying needs of employees and the unique challenges organizations might face, such as geographical constraints or different roles within the organization.

Offering different modes of training, such as online training, classroom sessions, or webinars, allows organizations to reach a wider audience, ensuring equal access to training for employees in remote regions or those with different job roles.

Question 47

What is a key aspect to consider before developing a mental health training program?

Answer 47

Before developing a mental health training program, it is important to develop a comprehensive strategy so the organization has a clear idea of how training fits into the big picture and complements other wellness initiatives. This involves understanding the issues that exist in the workplace, what needs to change, and how training can help effect the transformation.

Question 48

What example demonstrates the importance of flexibility in mental health training programs?

Answer 48

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) implemented mental health training that included online training to address the high cost of travelling to and from Northern Canada.

This flexibility allowed employees in remote regions to have equal access to training, providing a more inclusive and effective approach to addressing mental health in the workplace.