In today's changed environment where the economy and industry are driven by customers, business is open to worldwide competition. Manufacturing firms have looked at employee performance improvement as a means to succeed. These findings advocate setting up priorities for employee performance improvement. This requires a continuous improvement…

This article questions commonly held beliefs about training as a component of performance improvement solutions. Rather than being based on theoretical and empirical support, many beliefs about training are based on little more than myth. Part 1 of this article presents myths about the relationship of training and performance and myths about…

Proposes a four-level model for adapting the Kirkpatrick model of training evaluation to suit technical manuals and services assessing: (1) user satisfaction; (2) user performance; (3) client performance; and (4) client satisfaction. Discusses assessing of the value of work, limitations in evaluating technical communication products, and the…

Provides eight reasons why a trainer with an instructional technology background and an employee-centered focus on performance improvement should be involved in solving human performance problems. Abilities highlighted include: systematic thinker; systemic thinker; analytical; team player; excellent interpersonal and communication skills; knowing…

A relatively new feature of human performance technology (HPT) is e-training, which, while considerably more economical and time-efficient than traveling to a remote location for training, presents other challenges. Course length remains a problem, and there are professional organizations for which performance improvement is too difficult to…

Discusses how to improve an organization's training and communications system, both philosophically and technically, and highlights activities conducive to a rewired communication system. Lists online sources on the topic and freeware packages that can be downloaded, and includes job aid forms designed to be copied and posted in the organization.…

A variety of instructional methods have been shown to be effective in fostering employee learning in workplace training. These include problem-based learning, cooperative learning, and situated learning. Despite their success, however, there are at least two important reasons to actively foster learning beyond the training room: The transfer of…