3.6 Training & Development Flashcards

All 28 cards in this deck

What is induction training?

Training given to new employees when they start, introducing them to the business's procedures and systems, health and safety rules and their colleagues.

Give one benefit of induction training.

Any one of: new employees learn their role and the business's procedures quickly, so they become productive sooner; they feel confident and welcome when they start.

What is on-the-job training?

Training while doing the job, by being shown how to do it by a more experienced colleague and then practising.

Give one advantage to a business of on-the-job training.

Any one of: it costs less and takes less time than sending staff on a course; employees learn practical skills by doing the real job.

Give one drawback of on-the-job training.

Any one of: the employee may be doing the job before they have all the skills needed, causing stress and mistakes; the colleague doing the coaching may pass on bad habits.

What is off-the-job training?

Training that takes place away from the employee's normal job, often outside the workplace, for example at a college or on a course run by specialist trainers; it may lead to a qualification.

Give one advantage to a business of off-the-job training.

Any one of: it can lead to a recognised qualification; it can be run by experts in the subject or industry, bringing in skills the business lacks.

Give one drawback of off-the-job training.

Any one of: it is expensive, e.g. course fees and travel; employees are away from work, so production time is lost.

How does training increase productivity?

Trained staff work faster and make fewer mistakes, so output per employee rises.

Give one benefit of training employees that relates to the product or the customer.

Any one of: production of high quality goods; good customer service.

What is the link between training and employee retention?

Training gives employees new skills and makes them feel valued, so they are motivated and less likely to leave.

Why does a business retrain staff when it introduces new technology?

So employees can use it effectively and efficiently, which improves productivity and overall business performance.

Give one drawback to a business of training employees.

Any one of: it is costly; it takes employees away from their work, so output falls; trained staff may leave for a competitor.

What is an apprenticeship?

A form of staff development where an employee works for the business while studying and training towards a qualification.

Name three forms of staff development.

Vocational qualifications (job-related skills), academic qualifications (general knowledge, e.g. a degree) and apprenticeships.

How does training help a business develop?

Trained staff can introduce new products, extend the product range and create new designs.

How does training help a business deal with a skills shortage?

It builds the skills the business lacks among its own staff, instead of having to recruit them externally.

Give one benefit to an employee of staff development, e.g. gaining a qualification.

Any one of: new skills and knowledge; better promotion prospects and pay; more confidence and motivation.

What is the difference between training and staff development?

Training is short term and teaches the skills for a particular job; development is longer term and builds the employee's overall potential for future roles.

Why can on-the-job training reduce the output of experienced employees?

The experienced colleague has to stop their own work to show the trainee what to do, so they produce less.

Why might a business choose off-the-job training when a job carries safety risks?

Trainees can practise on special equipment or in simulations away from real customers, so mistakes do not cause injuries or damage.

Give one cost to a business of induction training.

New employees are paid while they are not yet producing, and someone has to be paid or released to run the induction.

How can induction training reduce a business's costs from health and safety problems?

New employees learn the safety rules before they start, so there are fewer accidents, compensation claims and bad publicity.

Give one advantage to a business of taking on apprentices.

Any one of: it can be cheaper than hiring already-skilled workers; training is tailored to the business's needs; it helps avoid skill shortages; apprentices often become loyal employees.

Give one drawback to a business of taking on apprentices.

Any one of: it pays for their training and for experienced staff's time to supervise them; the money is wasted if the apprentice leaves before finishing; mistakes by apprentices who are not yet skilled can waste resources.

Give one benefit to an employee of doing an apprenticeship.

Any one of: they earn an income while learning; they gain a qualification that helps their career.

Give one drawback to an employee of doing an apprenticeship.

Any one of: pay is usually low while they are learning; the qualification is often specific to one job, so it opens fewer options than a general qualification.

How does staff development help a business meet its future staffing needs?

It prepares existing employees for more senior roles, so when a manager leaves someone is ready to be promoted instead of recruiting externally.