Training and Development

Training is an event. Development is a process.

Training is a process of learning a sequence of programmed behavior. The focus is on immediate improvement of the employee, in order to make him more effective in his current role. More often at lower levels.

Eg Classroom instruction, OJT, Apprenticeships.

Development not only improves job performance but also brings about the growth of the personality. The focus is on making them efficient enough to handle critical situations in the future. More often with managers.

Egs Varied Work Experiences, Formal Education

Training usually refers to some kind of organized event that has a specific beginning an end. Employee development, however, is a much bigger, inclusive "thing".

When we train people, we focus on the job. When we develop people, we focus on the person. When we train people, we’re adding value to specific things, such as what their job description is. When we develop people, we add value to everything.

Training:

· Focuses on technical concepts.

· Focus is on immediate improvement of the employee, in order to make him more effective in his current role.

· Focuses on short term gains.

· Reward the company immediately in terms of better productivity of employee.

· Is concerned with the teaching of specific subject matter and skills.

· Formal classroom learning activities

· Vocational in nature.

Development:

· Focuses on theoretical skills & conceptual ideas.

· Focus is on making them efficient enough to handle critical situations in the future.

· Focuses on long-term accruals.

· Does not lead to any immediate and tangible benefits to the company.

· Is concerned with a broader subject matter.

· Learning experiences, both on and off the job, including formal, classroom training.

· General In nature.

Employee training is a necessity for any business that wants to remain competitive in today’s marketplace. But if you want to make a lasting difference training by itself is not enough development is a must.

“Training changes performance, development changes lives”

As a manager not knowing the exact definitions may cause problems as if you will not be able to match training or development objectives with the right programme as a result u not only will wasting valuable time but also wasting money and undermining your credibility in the eyes of your employees.