Training and Development Programs for Employees: A Case Study of Marks and Spencer
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Added on 2023/06/18
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This report discusses the importance of training and development programs for employees, with a case study of Marks and Spencer. It covers various methods of training and development, their advantages and disadvantages, and provides recommendations for effective implementation.
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Training and Development Programs
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Table of Contents INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3 MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3 Training..................................................................................................................................3 Development...........................................................................................................................6 Recommendations............................................................................................................................8 CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8 REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
INTRODUCTION To run a successful business an organisation needs to run employee training and development programs. These programs not only provide opportunities for employees but also enhance their productivityandimprovecompanyculture.Theseprogramsareanintegralpartofthe management. These programs create healthy environment, improve quality of work, build team spirit and also motivate employees to perform better. These programs help in understanding the employees by reducing their dissatisfaction and complaints towards the company(Chazan-Cohen and et. al, 2017).For the purpose of this report the employees of Marks and Spencer are taken into consideration. MAIN BODY Training Training is an important part of an organisation for its development and success. It is a program conductedwithinorganisationforemployeestoimprovetheirperformance,skillsand knowledge. Training enhance the personal growth of employees and also build team spirit within them. Some of the methods used to train employees are: On job training In this method of training new employees are instructed by some experienced employee. This method improves the practical skills of employees. It is one-to-one training method where employees can find answers to their quires directly from the instructor or supervisor. This training method enables the manager to manage or guide the employees to carry out everyday tasks(Dwyer and et. al, 2018).In context of Marks and Spencer, company's experienced employees share their unique internal experiences in order to provide relaxed and supportive environment to the new employees. Advantages Practical knowledge:The employees works in actual environment rather than artificial environment. This method is does not need any theoretical work instead it provides practical knowledge to employees where a manager assigns them some tasks to perform. Quick learning:This method is less time consuming. It helps in learning quickly as it provides information about where and when an employee is needed the most. Therefore,
no extra time is wasted in understanding the system. Marks and Spencer employees delivers the relevant information to the trainees in order to consume time.Immediate Productivity:The employees develops their skills in short time. Immediate productivity is achieved as the employees works in team and this makes company assured that their resources are being used in right way. Experienced employees of Marks and Spencer encourage and provide coaching to trainees for increasing productivity. Disadvantages Rushed Process:This training is highly chaotic and disorganised. Employer wants its employee to work as soon as possible therefore this process results into rushing of things, confusion and doubt within employees(Gleason and Hays, 2019) Accident Possibility:As the trainees are learning in the real production conditions there are changes of accidents as they lack the knowledge and dexterity of working with the resource. Low Productivity:Trainee may lack motivation towards receiving training this results into low production. As the experienced employees are involved in the training programs it means that they are unavailable to work hence it may lead into lower productivity level. Induction programs Induction program is provided for new employees to give them information about the company policies. This program includes tour of the company premises, introduction with colleagues, health and safety information(Jacob, Hill and Corey 2017).In the induction program Marks and Spencer educates the new employees about the history of the company and organises team building exercises. Advantages Saves time:Induction Program saves time as it provides all the necessary information about the organisation to the new employee. An employee can easily adapt to the environment and delivers results quickly by understanding his role within the company. Ensure efficiency:An employee becomes familiar with the firm's work, culture, vision, goal and environment through induction program this helps in enhancing their efficiency quickly.
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Establish good communication:A new employee is able to communicate properly with the organisation with the help of Induction program. As the new employee is introduced with the other employees, directors and managers of the organisation. Disadvantages Too much information at once:An organisation tries to provide all the information at once that can trigger the stress within the employee. Getting lost in details:Many organisation focus only on the formalities rather than knowing the new employee. The employee gets lost in the details provided on the very first day and it demotivate them(McComb and Eather, 2017). An impersonal induction experience:New employees have their own expectations of their role which company forgets to acknowledge and forgets to provide personal information to them. Technology programs Technology training improves the technical skills of an employee. Marks and Spencer provides an 18-month data fellowship program under which employees get training in data analysis. This program makes them a digital expert by providing unique knowledge in programming language. Advantages Learning experience:With the help of this program an employee has an access to new tools and technology. This evolves their creation and open doors for new opportunities. Provide long term benefits:The knowledge an employee has acquired during this program remains with him throughout his career. This program takes short time but gives a long term benefit.Cost- effective:This program is in digital format which reduces the engagement of physical training rooms and equipment’s. Employees only need to have a smartphone or a computer device and internet connection for learning(Rehfeld and et. al, 2017). Disadvantages Lack of human interaction:These training programs lacks social interaction with other colleaguesorinstructors.Employeesfeelisolatewhichcanbefrustratingand demotivating for them.
Unstructured learning:There is no fixed routine or schedules this makes easy to put off learning process. The unstructured learning can cause a problem and demotivate the employees. Technology meltdown:Online learning needs upgraded equipment’s and reliable internet connectivity.Iftheemployees'equipmentisincompatibleorunreliableinternet connection, then they will not be able to learn. Development Development is a process in which an organisation train its employees to improve their exiting skills and develop new ones to achieve firm's goal. Development programs modifies employee's thoughts and behaviour in such a way that builds a healthy work environment(Savina and et. al, 2020).Development programs prepares an employee for any future challenges. Some of the methods used for employee development are: Employee Training Trainingmethodshelpsinestablishingbasicknowledgeofworkingenvironmenttothe employees. In the case of Marks and Spencer, training programs builds companionships and reliability at workplace. This method develops skills of employee through lectures, videos, exercises and individual or group based activities(Slocum and et. al, 2019). Advantages Improves performance:Training programs improves the performance of employees. It helps them to improving their existing skills and developing new skills. Team bonding:Employees' training is organised in groups which improves the team boning within them. When employees get engage in producing quality products they need help from other departments then they will work together.Improveself-confidence:Trainingprogramsincreaseself-confidencewithinan employee. During the training programs trainee get to know about each process of making products which make them aware about everything related to the company. Disadvantages Lack concentration:Sometimes excessive of training results into loss of concentration and productivity among employees. The workload or pressure of performing well results into lack of interest.
Increase Stress:The long process of training exhausts the employees which makes them stressed. In order to keep employee updated company runs hours of meetings which makes employee frustrated. Loss of interest:Too much theory lessons for long hours make employees' learning tough and hard to remember which results into lack of interest in the session. Effective Coaching Skilled coaches share their work experience with employees. In Marks and Spencer coach polishes employees' skills and helps them in working on their growth(Chazan-Cohen and et. al, 2017) Advantages Positive environment:Leaders create a positive and stable workplace environment for employees. The leaders provide feedback to the employees to encourage them to face difficult situations in future.Turn weakness into strength:Leaders analyse the internal weaknesses in the professional environment and by implementing required actions turns them into strengths. This increase the overall performance of the organisation. Disadvantages Ineffective coaching:Coaching style needs plenty of time, concentration and patience which is not possible for everyone to achieve. Leaders may get frustrated by continuous quires of learners(Dwyer and et. al, 2018). Different approaches:Each coach have different approaches to train employees. The styles of training changes according to the situation which can lead into misunderstanding and confusion between the employees. Leadership mentoring In this method a Senior leader or manager takes the junior employees under their supervision and train them to develop their important or relevant skills. Marks and Spencer provide single time mentoring sessions for career planning to build the interest of employees towards company. Advantages Createprofessionalrelationship:Mentoringhelpsinbuildingrelationshipswhere employees praise and protect each other. Mentoring provides support network at work place.
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Give confidence to new employees:Mentor helps new employees in learning the internal environment of the firm and in communicating with everyone efficiently(Gleason and Hays, 2019). Disadvantages Time consuming:To become a mentor is not an easy task, it requires a lot of training classes, work experience and patience which is a time consuming process. Creates Loyalty issues:The new employee and mentor may have some legal, ethical or moral issues between them which can create conflicts or loyalty issues between them. Recommendations Training and development programs are an important part of all the organisation. Not all the employees have the same level of talent and skills when they join the organisation. Company needs to organise orientation programs to know their new employees. A fixed schedule or time management must be implemented in order to decrease the hours of training programs. More physical training programs must be organising rather than virtual training to make employees social. The mentors or managers must train themselves to remain patient or calm during training programs. CONCLUSION Employees training and development programs are important for enhancing their performance. Training and development programs help employees in managing tasks in teams or individually. Organisingtheseprogramsregularlyimprovestheproductivityofemployeesandreduce employee turnover.Training programs helps in creating team spirit within employees while development programs create opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge to achieve bettergrowthincareer.Therefore,everybusinessmustconstantlyprovidetrainingand development programs for employees to mould the attitude of employees for better co-operation with the company. These programs support in building a satisfactory organisational structure.
REFERENCES Books and Journals Chazan-Cohen, R. and et. al, 2017. Influences on US higher education programs educating the infant-toddler workforce. In Under-three year olds in policy and practice (pp. 159-175). Springer, Singapore. Dwyer, R. and et. al, 2018. An overview of take‐home naloxone programs in Australia. Drug and alcohol review. 37(4). pp.440-449. Gleason, B.K. and Hays, D.G., 2019. A phenomenological investigation of wellness within counselor education programs. Counselor Education and Supervision. 58(3). pp.177- 194. Jacob, R., Hill, H. and Corey, D., 2017. The impact of a professional development program on teachers' mathematical knowledge for teaching, instruction, and student achievement. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness. 10(2). pp.379-407. McComb, V. and Eather, N., 2017. Exploring the Personal, Social and Occupational Elements of Teacher Professional Development. Journal of education and Training Studies. 5(12). pp.60-66. Rehfeld, K. and et. al, 2017. Dancing or fitness sport? The effects of two training programs on hippocampal plasticity and balance abilities in healthy seniors. Frontiers in human neuroscience. 11. p.305. Savina, T. and et. al, 2020. Corporate social responsibility: necessity to integrate into educational programs of economists and lawyers. In E3S Web of Conferences (Vol. 208). EDP Sciences. Slocum, S.L. and et. al, 2019. The impact of neoliberalism on higher education tourism programs: Meeting the 2030 sustainable development goals with the next generation. Tourism Management Perspectives. 30. pp.33-42.