Training effectiveness depends on conducting a thorough needs assessment. Traditional needs assessment methods are insufficient for today's business environment characterized by rapid pace, risk, and uncertainty. To overcome the deficiencies of traditional needs assessment methods, a narrative-based unstructured interview approach with subject…

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a new approach to performance appraisal training. Motivated by split-brain theory and existing studies of cognitive information processing and performance appraisals, this exploratory study examined the effects of a whole-brain approach to training managers for implementing performance…

The purpose of this field study of 327 nonfaculty university professionals was to examine the joint relationship of conscientiousness and context on two dependent variables: motivation and participation in voluntary training systems. Drawing on the principles of person-by-situation theories of personality, this study examined how the relationship…

Studies have evaluated the outcomes of sexual harassment training, but considerably less research has focused on variables that influence sexual harassment training effectiveness. To address this need, we developed and tested a model of individual and contextual inhibitors of sexual harassment training motivation to learn. Survey data collected…

Businesses, organizations, and government agencies have invested heavily in employee training. The American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) reports these costs as 2.15% of payroll (ASTD, 2008). A large amount of this investment is directed at improving employee knowledge and skills. Although most organizations are good at this, often a…

The current study examined the temporal effect of perceived training utility on adoption of a trained method and how perceived organizational support influences the relationship between perceived training utility perceptions and adoption of a trained method. With the use of a correlational-survey-based design, this longitudinal study required…

Recently, theory and research have supported psychological capital (PsyCap) as an emerging core construct linked to positive outcomes at the individual and organizational level. However, to date, little attention has been given to PsyCap development through training interventions; nor have there been attempts to determine empirically if such…

This study examines the effects of ethics training on the attitudes, knowledge-based scores, and analysis of ethical dilemmas among office professionals. A treatment- and control-group design was used with variables of interest measured before, immediately after, and ninety days following completion of a six-hour ethics training workshop. A…

Singapore is a growing educational hub for the Asia Pacific region. However, no prior research has examined how Singaporean managers trade off attributes of training programs when making executive training decisions. The current study used conjoint analysis to identify the most important attributes of training programs as word of mouth, trainers'…

A transfer model was applied to data from a survey of workers in four Chinese electronics firms. Results showed that transfer of training depends on organizational factors that facilitate use of knowledge, skills, and attitudes acquired. Supervision and other human factors were most influential. (SK)

The study presented here examined the effects of trainees' reactions to skill assessment on their motivation to learn. A model was developed that suggests that two dimensions of trainees' assessment reactions, distributive justice and utility, influence training motivation and overall training effectiveness. The model was tested using a sample of…

In a randomized 2x2 study, 174 managers and students read one of four scenarios with one of two posttraining transfer interventions (relapse prevention, supervisor support training) and information types (utility analysis, research). They showed no preference for adopting either intervention to increase staff productivity. Research information was…

Using an instructional systems development approach, ways to prepare the host country workforce for the assignment of an expatriate manager are discussed. The model is based on a number of perspectives: exchange theory, participatory management, corporate social responsibility, communication theory, and strategic human resource planning. (SK)

Holton, Bates, and Ruona report that factor analysis of data from the Learning Transfer System Inventory for 1,616 trainees identified climate, job utility, and rewards as most important influences on transfer of learning. Noe's reaction critiques the research. (Contains 73 references.) (SK)

After a 9-week training course, 102 manager trainees in a fast-food chain were assigned to restaurants. Those assigned to units having positive organizational transfer climate (measured by situational cues and consequences) were rated as better performers. Climate affected the degree to which learned behavior was transferred to the actual job. (SK)