Training and Development: Meaning, Definition, Needs, and Objectives of Training and Development

Meaning and Definition of Training

Training is a short-term process utilising a systematic and organised procedure by which non-managerial personnel acquire technical knowledge and skills for a definite purpose. It refers to instruction, mechanical and technical operations like operations of some machine.

According to Dale S. Beach, "Training is the organised procedure by which people learn knowledge and skills for a definite purpose."

According to Edwin B. Flippo, "Training is the act of increasing the knowledge and skills of an employee for doing a particular job."

Meaning and Definition of Development

Development is the long-term educational process utilising a systematic and organised procedure by which managers get conceptual knowledge.

According to Dale S. Beach, "Management Development is a systematic process of training and growth by which individuals gain and apply knowledge, skills, insights, and attitude to manage orientation effectively."

According to Edwin B. Flippo, "Management Development includes the process by which managers and executives acquire not only skills and competency in their present job but also capacities for future managerial tasks."

In simple terms, Training and Development refer to imparting of specific skills and abilities and knowledge to an employee.

Training and Development Need = Standard Performance - Actual Performance 

Need for Training

1. Increasing Knowledge: Advancement in Technology, change in business environment and new management philosophies have now made it crucial to renew and update the existing knowledge and skills of the employees to maintain their competency.

2. Improvement in Performance: Continuous training updates and renews their existing level of knowledge and skills which increases their effectiveness. Therefore, to make employees more effective, it is important to impart continuous training. 

3. Development of Human Skills: New training programmes also focus on developing human skills of employees apart from the technical and conceptual skills. Such human skills result in effective inter-personal relations and sustaining healthy work environment. Therefore, It should not be ignored.

4. Imparting Trade Specific Skills: In industrial employment, workers and employees are recruited through compulsory apprenticeship training. Such training enables an organisation to impart industry and trade specific skills to workers. Hence, its an important need for manpower training.

5. Establishing Work Force: Training is important to establish the workforce which withstands the technological change and making organisation dynamic. Management theorists now agree that it is the responsibility of the management to continuously train and develop their manpower.

Objectives of Training 

1.  To provide job-related knowledge to the workers.
2.  To impart skills among the workers systematically so that they may learn quickly.
3.  To bring about change in the attitudes of the workers towards fellow workers, supervisor and the organisation.
4.  To improve the productivity of the workers and the organisation.
5.  To reduce the number of accidents by providing safety training to the workers.
6.  To make the workers handle materials; machines and equipment efficiently and thus to check wastage of time and resources.
7.  To prepare workers for promotion to higher jobs by imparting them advanced skills.