Product Description

How can a small training staff improve an organization's performance?

Many companies that are looking to trim payrolls staff their training departments with only one or two people. Even small training departments are expected to make significant and noticeable contributions to their organizations. Many lone trainers are new to training or have been used to functioning as part of larger staffs. No matter what their background, trainers in small departments need guidance on how to make the most of their resources and how to keep from being overwhelmed by unrealistic expectations and demands from senior management and customers. Small training departments can succeed in improving an organization’s performance if they understand the key business challenges, focus on priorities, form partnerships with internal and external resources, and maintain a positive attitude. By following the strategies outlined in this book, lone trainers can survive and even thrive in today’s challenging business environment.

IN ACTION: Managing the Small Training Staff is a compilation of 12 case studies that provide practical ideas for action and in-depth examples of what training departments that range in size from one part-time employee to five full-time people can accomplish. Representing a wide range of industries, the cases explain the challenges and opportunities small training departments face and describe specific success strategies and tactics that have proved useful.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1196295 in Books
• Published on: 1998-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 227 pages

Customer Reviews

Excellent collection of real life training experiences.
As a training consultant I often get tapped by organizations to help design, refine and implement small HRD departments. The training function is often the last HR speciality to be added and one in which HR generalists have the least experience. "Managing the Small Training Staff" offers the reader a wide variety of initiatives and interventions for the reader to review. I have utilized this book in my consulting practice to expose new practioners to a variety of real life training experiences.I particularly appreciate the candor of the writers who elaborate on both successful and unsuccessful efforts.A great case study book for new trainers and a valuable resource for more seasoned practioners!

A useful tool for HRD practitioners and students.
I reviewed this book from the perspective of an instructor teaching graduate level HRD classes. Students in my classes range from aspiring professionals who have no prior HRD experience to those with significant experience. It is always a dilemma to find texts that can meet the needs of all the students; but I think this one can. For the inexperienced student, the 12 cases provide a solid base of information about what the training role is all about, at least in small training departments. For experienced practitioners, it provides examples of how other professionals have addressed opportunities and challenges common to everyone in similar roles. While it does not profess to be a compendium of best practices, it certainly can be used to benchmarks one's own practices.

The twelve cases cover businesses of various sizes and in various industries from a small rural bank to a large multi-national bio-medical manufacturing company. In none of the cases were there more than 5 training staff. The cases are presented using a somewhat standard format: a description of the company, a description of training's mission, role and structure, discussion of some challenges, a success story and some lessons learned.

If anything is lacking in the book, from an instructional standpoint, it is that it does not attempt to analyze or synthesize the information presented. Therefore, while it can be used as a resource for discussion, it likely could not be used as a stand alone text.