Unit 2 - People in business (Training)

Question 1

Importance of training

Answer 1

Training is the process that involves increasing the knowledge and skills of a worker to enable them to do their job more effectively. Gives the employee a new skill to increase profitability.

Question 2

Induction training

Answer 2

Induction training is the training that people get when they start a job. It helps recruits to settle in and become familiar with their new surroundings.

Question 3

On-the-job training

Answer 3

Workers are training in the workplace while doing their jobs. Different approaches can be used:
- Watching another worker
- Mentoring
- Job rotation

Question 4

Watching another worker

Answer 4

A new employee is trained by watching and copying what an experienced employee does. This only works if the trainer is dedicated.

Question 5

Mentoring

Answer 5

Trainees do job without supervision but can call on an experienced employee (mentor) for help and guidance.

Question 6

Job rotation

Answer 6

The trainee rotates through different jobs to gain a broad knowledge and skills required for work.

Question 7

Advantages and disadvantages (On-the-job training)

Answer 7

Advantages:
- Output is being produced
- Relevant because trainees learn by actually doing the job
- Cheaper than other forms of training
- Can be easy to organise

Disadvantages:
- Output may be lost if workers make mistakes and through the time diverted to showing the new recruit how to do things
- May be stressful for the worker - particularly if working with others
- Staff may get frustrated if they are ‘unpaid’ trainers
- Could be a danger to others, for example, surgeon or train driver

Question 8

Off-the-job training

Answer 8

Training that takes place away from the work area.
Advantages:
- Output is not affected if mistakes are made
- Learning cannot be distracted by work
- Training could take place outside work hours if necessary
- Customers and others are not put at risk

Disadvantages:
- No output because employees do not contribute to work
- Some off-the-job training is expensive if provided by specialists
- Some aspects of work cannot be taught off-the-job
- It may take time to organise

Question 9

Training in health and safety

Answer 9

Health and safety legislations make it so business have to train employees in health and safety. Health and safety inspectors go inside business premises to check the health and safety of the business and employees.

Question 10

Benefits of training

Answer 10

Main reason is to grant people with new skills and knowledge for their job. There are several other reasons:
- Keeping workers up to date
- Improving labour flexibility
- Improving job satisfaction and motivation
- New jobs in the business
- Training for promotion

Question 11

Keeping workers up to date

Answer 11

Workers will need training if there are changes that might affect their job.

Question 12

Improving labour flexibility

Answer 12

Businesses gain add flexibility if they train their workers in multiple skills (multi-skilled).

Question 13

Improving job satisfaction and motivation

Answer 13

Training makes employees more secure because they can do their job properly and are less likely to be replaced (business already spent money on them/more expensive to replace).

Question 14

New jobs in the business

Answer 14

If new jobs in a business arise staff will need to be retrained.

Question 15

Training for promotion

Answer 15

Staff need to learn new skills to deal with the new job’s requirements.

Question 16

The limitations of training

Answer 16

Some businesses are unwilling to invest in expensive training. Main reasons are outlined below:
- High cost of training courses and other resources.
- Learning by doing
- Loss of output
- Employees leaving

Question 17

High cost of training courses and other resources

Answer 17

Training is expensive because businesses need to pay specialists.

Question 18

Learning by doing

Answer 18

Some businesses argue that workers do not really start learning until they enter the workstation because stress and distractions cannot be simulated.

Question 19

Loss of output

Answer 19

If the worker is focusing on their training the business will lose output because the worker isn’t working.

Question 20

Employees leaving

Answer 20

Businesses can get annoyed if an employee they just trained goes to a rival company.