by Shane Henson — April 30, 2012—Companies can’t stay competitive without a well-trained and growth-focused workforce, including facilities staff, but as a new survey by the U.K.’s Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has found, too many employers in Britain rely on outdated methods and techniques to provide training to their staff. This could well be true for employers in other countries as well.
According to the organization, its CIPD/Cornerstone OnDemand Learning and Talent Development Survey 2012 found that traditional methods of workplace learning are considered among the least effective ways to up-skill employees, but still dominate many learning and development (L&D) programs.
When asked to choose the most effective ways of delivering training, just 16% of learning and talent development professionals opted for “formal education courses,” and the same number for “coaching by external practitioners.” Only 11% pointed to “e-learning.” Yet despite doubts about its effectiveness, less than a fifth (17%) of the report’s respondents plan to reduce their reliance on “classroom and trainer-led instruction” over the next two years.
When asked what methods are most likely to work, most learning and development professionals pointed toward training that is integrated into the normal course of their jobs. Half of respondents (52%) responded that “in-house development programs” were among the most effective ways of delivering training, while almost as many (46%) cited “coaching by line managers.” Two-fifths (39%) pointed towards “on-the-job training.”
Further findings of the survey include:
- A third of public sector organizations anticipate greater use of e-learning across the organization over the next two years, compared with a fifth of other organizations.
- Fewer organizations than last year report they undertake talent management activities. In two-fifths of organizations, talent management activities cover all or most employees, but most focus on high-potential employees and senior managers.
- Two-fifths of organizations report that innovation and creativity are critical to their organizations and that everyone is involved.
- Half of organizations report that their economic circumstances have declined in the past twelve months, rising to three-quarters in the public sector.
- The median annual training budget per employee was £276, less than last year’s figure of £350. The median number of training hours employees receive per year was 24, again a reduction from last year.
- Fewer organizations than last year report they undertake talent management activities. In two-fifths of organizations, talent management activities cover all or most employees, but most focus on high-potential employees and senior managers.
