12
November, 2008
The
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
today launches a research insight into the role of
training and learning - Supporting, Accelerating and
Directing Learning - in our service-led and knowledge-driven
economy, following the third year anniversary of its
Virtual Trainers Network established in November 2005.
Drawing
from the findings of the Virtual Trainers Network's
online polls and discussion threads, as well as numerous
projects, the report argues for a new definition of
the trainer role to that of a facilitator of learning
embedded specifically to the needs of employees and
the organisation. It argues that this will in turn
help to create a culture where learning is relevant
to the needs of the learners, and more integrated
in the day-to-day activities.
To
embed learning, the line manager is crucial. The 2008
CIPD Learning and Development survey reported that
there is a positive shift to line managers being involved
in determining learning and development needs (86%),
with half predicting line managers will have greater
responsibility in the next five years (49%). The 'embedded
approach' also needs to be applied to coaching, which
is now practised in the majority of organisations
(71%).
Deemed
especially important is the need for buy-in from employees
and line managers alike as well as top management
commitment to realise the full potential contribution
of learning, training and development.
Martyn
Sloman, Adviser Learning, Training & Development at
the CIPD, says: "Managers at all levels must be able
to see that the training and learning interventions
are closely aligned to business requirements. If that
happens they will benefit immediately and put less
pressure on the training department to prove itself.
Otherwise, they will only play lip-service and not
give the support that is essential if new skills and
knowledge are to be transferred back into the workplace."
Strategically
aligning learning and development with organisational
priorities can prove difficult, however, according
to a 2007 Virtual Trainers Network poll which identified
a major area of difficulty: 40% indicated that their
organisations strategy is unclear and 60% highlighted
that top managers do not see learning training and
development activities as strategic. Additionally,
respondents agreed that decisions about spending are
determined more by year-on-year budget levels rather
than by the identification of strategic priorities.
Martyn
Sloman continues: "The challenge for trainers is stated.
We must stop being trainer-centric and become business
and learning-centric. The requirements for skills
in a service-led and knowledge-driven economy are
different from the command and control workplace,
with its tight job descriptions.
"We
want employees to learn, which is a discretionary
activity. You can make people sit in a training room,
but you can't make them learn. Still less can you
make them apply what they have learned or share that
learning with others.
"21st
century trainers need a new mind-set as well as a
new skill-set."
_________________________________
*
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
(CIPD)
is the United Kingdom's leading professional body
for those involved in the management and development.
They have 130,000 individual members and their objectives
are to lead in the development and promotion of good
practice in the field of the management and development
of people, for application both by professional members
and by their organisational colleagues.
Source:
CIPD
See
also:
Employers
prioritise management and leadership training to survive
recession - March 2009
CIPD
highlights importance of work-based training - March
09
CIPD
Press releases - CIPD jobs market update - July 2008
CIPD
guide helps HR navigate the coaching maze - November
08
Worrying
surge in redundancy enquiries strenghtens case for
interest rate cut - October 2008
Slump
in productivity and rising unit wage costs spells
bad news for jobs - October 2008
Flexible
working - October 2008 Equality and Human Rights Commission
and Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
Poorly
Managed Conflict Is Crippling British Business
- October 2008
Increasing
your effectiveness at work by using your Emotional
Intelligence - June 2008
UK
jobs market being crunched 'woeful winter to follow
awful autumn' - October 2008
