Describes the Productivity Group, created by the Oklahoma State Department of Vocational and Technical Education. The Group boosts small businesses by making available quality management development programs and human resource consulting services. The article discusses program management, costs, and the business community's response. (CT)

Outlines a procedure for designing an industrial skills training program in which the trainer prepares a job analysis by actually learning about the job duties and equipment; writes instructional objectives for each equipment section; and combines sets of job photos, scripts, objectives, and other information into a study guide for trainees. (MF)

Discusses the benefits of behavior modeling, examines the Behavior Modeling Learning Staircase (which illustrates the situational and generic skills that can be developed in a supervisory training program), and describes the role of the trainer. (CT)

This article provides a flexible systems approach model for planning programs that includes seven steps: (1) assessing needs; (2) establishing priorities and responsibilities; (3) selecting goals and objectives; (4) allocating resources; (5) selecting teaching techniques; (6) evaluating outcomes; and (7) determining effectiveness. (JOW)

Describes a line manager's successful attempt to design an autonomously run plant. The author discusses the assembly of a team of workers to develop the plant, product design, characteristics of the team members, the employee reward system, role of the plant manager, and the manager's evaluation of the plant's success. (CT)

Outlines a methodology that enables managers to translate the basic principles of human resource strategy into pragmatic and concrete action programs. The methodology includes providing framework for strategic decision making; ensuring linkage between corporate, business, and human resource strategies; conducting audit of the human resource…

An approach is presented which uses the sociotechnical systems concept and a generic planning model as a guiding perspective in the implementation of computer-aided design and manufacturing technologies. (CT)

Sales training programs require continual evaluation. The authors present a conceptual model of the interrelationships of planning, training, evaluation, and modification (IPTEM) in corporate sales training programs. (CT)

Unless education transfers back to the job, training is wasted and its value questioned. This article examines resistance to transfer and provides strategies for building transfer into training design. (CT)

Describes how Hughes Aircraft trainers followed four steps in meeting the challenges of a flexible manufacturing environment: needs assessment, design strategy, pilot evaluation, and follow-through. Within this environment, 50 self-paced training products were developed for one of the company's wire and back plane harness assembly departments. (CT)

Examines the history of the Motorola Company, its use of human capital as a strategic resource, hours and dollars committed to training, and the fact that Motorola owes its strong common culture and much of its success to the large number of long-service employees. (CT)

Asserts that a large part of the labor pool from which businesses draw employees is poorly educated. Suggests that a good way to get help is to create strategic alliances with government agencies and private organizations. Presents examples of an alliance that was formed to address labor deficiencies in South Carolina. (JOW)

The Instructional Systems Design model is presented. Phases of the model are explained. They are: (1) analysis (organizational, learner, and job needs, and evaluation); (2) design (objectives, specifications, strategies, evaluation); (3) development (evaluation, tests, media, materials); and (4) implementation (instructor characteristics, training…

Describes an on-the-job training program that contains seven major steps: obtain executive support, identify departments relevant to the target job, develop performance competency lists and measures, determine a training schedule for each trainee, assign a mentor to each trainee, develop a training manual, and develop a trainee and supervisor…

The authors studied 50 organizations to find which have the most successful career development programs and why. The results are codified into 12 principles, including stay specific, tailor program to culture, build from a conceptual base, formalize, design multiple approaches, co-design and manage the project, ensure top management support, and…