Any organization with a comprehensive training program has a leadership development curriculum. These programs include everything from conventional classroom learning with guest speakers to high-tech simulations and lavish retreats. There also may be mentorship thrown in, as well as multiple job rotations. Despite the well-rounded curricula, many…

In this article, "Training" editors recognize innovative and successful learning and development programs and practices submitted in the 2012 Training Top 125 application. Best practices: (1) Edward Jones: Practice Makes Perfect (sales training); (2) Grant Thornton LLP: Senior Manager Development Program (SMDP); (3) MetLife, Inc.: Top Advisor…

Innovation has been part of The Economical Insurance Group (TEIG) throughout its 140-year history--its first insurance policy was written on a barn in Berlin, Ontario. Today, the company continues to pursue innovation through its leaders, utilizing a variety of programs to develop the talent needed to guide the 2,500-employee organization through…

According to "Training" magazine's annual Salary Survey of 867 readers, training salaries took a big hit in 2009-2010, plunging an average of $2,334. The average increase in salary in the last 12 months (not including a promotion or change of employer) continued to nosedive, coming in at 2.43 percent in 2009-2010 vs. 3.08 the year before.…

Most companies need a steady stream of talent to enter, then move up in, the organization. But at most companies, the care and feeding of that talent stream is often a bit fragmented; recruitment is largely an HR function, while succession planning--to the extent there is any--is left in the hands of executive leadership. Development of the…

The revolving-door CEO is becoming a fixture of American companies, and is likely to remain so for some time. With executive tenure at a mere 2.5 years and a CEO turnover rate that increased 11 percent last year, newly hired executives must hit the ground running if they hope to be effective before moving on to their next jobs. Helping them adjust…

A first-of-its-kind, comprehensive, annotated resource list of 116 commercially available off-the-shelf and custom-made management training programs and courses is arranged by medium and listed alphabetically by title. (Author/BP)

Hamburger University is McDonald's training facility in Oak Brook, Illinois. Its management development program grants college-credit hours recognized by the American Council on Education to managers from all over the world. (JOW)

Training can be the most important benefit included in the purchase of a franchise. Several of these training programs used by franchise sellers (Castro Convertibles, Roto-Rooter, H and R Block, Dunhill Personnel Systems Inc., Carvel, Holiday Inns, Sheraton Inns Inc., McDonald's) are discussed. (Author/BP)

Reports the results of a survey of U.S. organizations to determine what types of training programs are priorities and to whom these programs are delivered. (JOW)

Discusses the advantages and hazards of mentoring. Describes the qualities of a good mentor and of a good protege. Also gives strategies for selecting a good mentor. (JOW)

The article provides excerpts from an interview with Benjamin B. Tregoe (of Kepner-Tregoe, Inc.) on his thoughts on the future of management development and the challenge it poses to trainers. (Author/BP)

An interview with management theorist Peter Drucker puts current management development issues in perspective. (TA)

Discusses management development, technical training, and increased productivity throughout the world and indicates that the problems and challenges to be faced are similar. Specifically mentions training in Mexico, Japan, Australia, India, Africa, the Far East, the Middle East, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. (JOW)

To be successful, human resource development (HRD) managers must be marketers as well as trainers and performance engineers. The approach described in this article includes several components necessary to influence the outcomes of HRD decisions made by persons in higher positions. (Editor)