Why off-the-shelf training courses aren’t an effective investment
Lilac and orange is the new grey, so maximise your training investment and add some colour.
You need to buy a new suit. Company policy has changed all customer facing staff need to wear the ‘company suit’. Like all suits, this new suit needs to have a jacket, trousers, two arms, two legs and that pretend breast pocket that suits seem to have. However, your company is not like all the other companies. Your suit has to have square buttons. And the suit needs to be in your corporate colours; lilac. With orange polka dots. So, what are your options (apart from resigning on the grounds of a major clash of colours)?
You could buy a suit at your local Suits-R-Us. It would meet most of the criteria; it may even have a few additional extras like turn- ups or even a secret inner jacket pocket. However, it only comes in one size. Suits-R-Us tell you what a great advantage this is as being too big, you can grow into it, thereby accommodating an increase in client luncheons. However, it is not corporate. There are some additional costs involved as you get the buttons changed, eliminate surplus material and risk dying it. However, in the meantime you will have to go to work and hope that no-one notices your failure to meet the organisations criteria by hiding behind those who are already out meeting clients in their lilac and orange attire.
The alternative is to buy a bespoke suit. It will have exactly what you and your organisation needs, will fit better and help you meet the expected criteria at work. It may cost a little more in the short-term, but at least you are getting exactly what you want without the extra secret pocket which in reality is no benefit at all unless you want the profile of Quasimodo. Plus, when it’s completed, it’s done. There are no extra costs adding bits on or taking bits away.
It is not such a great leap from this accoutrial analogy to that of training. But like each person, each company is different and to buy generic off-the-shelf means settling for a course that has been ‘manufactured’ to satisfy the majority. This does mean that provided the training needs have been correctly identified, the off the shelf course is likely to meet some of your needs. But similarly, by definition, it is not relevant to your company and your requirements. So why does that matter?
The science is around the transfer of learning into the workplace. Adults learn by relating new information to existing knowledge. Generic learning is fine but without a tangible link to existing reference points, the transfer of learning may be limited. Even in courses with clearly defined content such as Money Laundering, unless these regulations are applied in practice to an individual’s job role, then the value and relevance of learning may be lost. Therefore, in each industry sector, organisation and even department, generic learning requires an element of customisation. To refer back to our suit, one size does not fit all.
In reality the pragmatic approach is to take the shop bought suit and customise it rather than have a bespoke suit made. Similarly with an off the shelf course, this can be customised to suit the needs of the individual, the organisation or the business sector.
By working with those in the organisation who are currently in the roles to be trained, you can identify exactly what skills are required for the role, and how they are measured. Try and be as specific as possible as to what skill is required and how it is used in the role.. For example:
“In this role, the job holder will be able to use the Excel ÒRANKÓ function when analysing the product sales sheet”
Or
“In this role, the job holder will be able to carry out a performance appraisal using the company’s process whilst demonstrating coaching skills based along the GROW model”
This will enable you to determine the required goals of any training intervention. Performing a needs analysis against such defined requirements will be more straightforward and accurate, thus saving time and money. The course can then be tailored to meet your organisations needs and that of the job role holder. Luckily, there are many expert ‘tailors’ who can ensure the best and most cost effective fit for your organisation
In this cut throat world, what makes your company different is your USP and how it is delivered by your people. What it is that makes you different needs to be inherent in everything you do, starting and ending with training. Omitting your uniqueness undermines your ability to stand out. In a world of grey suits, how do you differentiate? You customise, wear lilac and orange and get noticed!
Sam Mather
Sam Mather has worked in learning and development for over fifteen years, working with blue-chip organisations both in the UK and overseas. During the last five years, she has focused on more holistic performance solutions to drive organisational change, culminating in her Masters in Training and Performance Management, gained last year.
Blog date
07 July 2007
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