With today’s technology, I can download a book, a map or a movie right onto the mobile device in the palm of my hand in just a matter of seconds. And similarly, when I want to learn about a new topic or get a new skill, I don’t have to look much further than my browser to get started. Technology has presented itself as a game changer for those organizations who choose to embrace its power, especially in the area of organizational development. In addition to traditional onsite training programs, organizations across the globe now offer interactive, web-based training courses so that employees can participate in learning sessions from the location and device of their choice–whether they are in the same building as the trainer or thousands of miles away. While technology advances clearly show that our access to and delivery of information has changed, has the way that we process and absorb information changed, as well?
Today’s successful organizations know that it’s not enough to provide their employees with the task-based training they need to do their job right. Empowering employees to be effective champions for their organizations requires an advanced skill set of problem-solving skills so that they know how to analyze difficult situations and offer solutions. Companies that have a keen understanding of the decision making process, combined with a targeted and thoughtful workforce development program, can do more than keep up; they can stay ahead with a confident and competent workforce ready to tackle any challenge that comes their way.
Keeping Up with Training Trends
The most seasoned organizational trainers individually cater training sessions based not only on client requests, but also the needs of the trainee. With the tremendous growth of technology-enabled training programs, corporations are now determining how to integrate remote training into their traditional coursework.
Employing e-learning technologies, such as problem simulation and interactive video, further augments traditional learning sessions whether the session is in a classroom, on a computer screen, or at the manufacturing plant. And, while hands-on learning is still a key component of mastering a skill, virtual “walk-throughs” of complex technical issues and problem-solving techniques present opportunities for organizational growth beyond on-the-job skill training.
Training for problem solving equips the team to address potential problems long before technicians are in delicate situations with expensive equipment. And, the trend toward integrating strategic skills training is one that’s been on the rise and will continue to grow.
Staying Ahead Means Having a Plan
Have you heard the saying that you won’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been? The same applies to organizations that are looking to get ahead by improving the way they work. Like a destination on a map, you need a plan to get there.
Most organizations we work with tell us that improving their process is a critical part of their plan. Continuous business process improvements happen when organizations empower employees to provide appropriate solutions to business problems and provide preventative measures to keep them from reoccurring. Companies must not forget the importance of cataloging and interpreting historical data as a key element of determining the direction of where they’re headed.
What this means is that organizations need to look back in order to move forward. By reviewing production or safety issues, industry growth patterns, and past market challenges, organizations can begin to develop a successful path to what’s next. It’s important to note, however, that identifying past issues does not mean that these same challenges do not still exist today. It is in the discovery of the trouble spots that training priorities are established, giving the organization the opportunity to remove potential barriers to success.
Is your company staying ahead or falling behind? At Kepner-Tregoe, we believe that all organizations can become better in the future and that organizational training programs can make all the difference.
About Kepner-Tregoe
For more than six decades, Kepner-Tregoe has empowered organizations through a proven, structured approach to problem solving. As the leader in problem solving, KT has helped thousands of organizations solve millions of problems through more effective root cause analysis and decision-making skills. Through our unique blend of training and consulting, our clients demonstrate improved efficiency, higher quality and greater customer satisfaction while reducing their costs. KT’s experience-based learning methods integrating tools such as simulations and mentoring of in-tact teams have led to countless success stories for companies just like yours.
