ADVANCES IN ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY-BASED TECHNOLOGY-BASED
TRAININGTRAINING
Bradford S. Bell and Steve W. Bradford S. Bell and Steve W. J. Kozlowski J. Kozlowski
Chapter TopicsChapter Topics
Environmental factors pushing Environmental factors pushing companies to adopt technology-companies to adopt technology-based training based training
Different technology-based training Different technology-based training applications available in the applications available in the marketplacemarketplace
Chapter Topics ContinuedChapter Topics Continued
Costs and benefits of technology-Costs and benefits of technology-based training based training
Factors that influence technology-Factors that influence technology-based trainingbased training
Guidelines on the effective use of Guidelines on the effective use of technology to deliver training and technology to deliver training and meeting human capital development meeting human capital development needsneeds
Environmental Factors Influencing Environmental Factors Influencing Technology-Based TrainingTechnology-Based Training
Globalization Globalization Economic pressures Economic pressures Work/Life IssuesWork/Life Issues
GlobalizationGlobalization
Training costs can be prohibitive for Training costs can be prohibitive for highly decentralized organizationshighly decentralized organizations
Centralized classroom training is not Centralized classroom training is not an efficient means of delivering an efficient means of delivering timely training to a global workforcetimely training to a global workforce
Technology is more responsive to Technology is more responsive to training needs in this environmenttraining needs in this environment
Economic PressuresEconomic Pressures
Organizations must rely on Organizations must rely on workplace learning and continuous workplace learning and continuous improvement to remain successful improvement to remain successful
Companies face tremendous Companies face tremendous economic pressures to cut costs and economic pressures to cut costs and increase shareholder value increase shareholder value
Economic Pressures ContinuedEconomic Pressures Continued
Significant upfront costsSignificant upfront costs Helps organizations reduce variable Helps organizations reduce variable
costs associated with the classroom costs associated with the classroom Cost savings in other areas, such as Cost savings in other areas, such as
program updating and employees’ program updating and employees’ time off the job time off the job
Work/Life IssuesWork/Life Issues
Employees increasingly desire Employees increasingly desire flexible work arrangements, such as flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting telecommuting
Technology-based training can Technology-based training can address the logistical problems of the address the logistical problems of the flexible and telecommuting flexible and telecommuting workforceworkforce
Technological AdvancesTechnological Advances
Recent advances in computing power Recent advances in computing power and connectivityand connectivity
Greater bandwidth increases the Greater bandwidth increases the multimedia capabilities of multimedia capabilities of technology-based trainingtechnology-based training
Technological Advances Cont.Technological Advances Cont.
Today’s high-end technologies can Today’s high-end technologies can increasingly approximate increasingly approximate conventional, instructor-led conventional, instructor-led classroom training classroom training
Media that support these advanced Media that support these advanced technologies have become more technologies have become more cost-efficient, reliable, and accessible cost-efficient, reliable, and accessible
Training TechnologiesTraining Technologies
CD-ROM, DVD, and Interactive Video CD-ROM, DVD, and Interactive Video systemssystems
Web-based training Web-based training Electronic performance support systems Electronic performance support systems
(EPSS) and intelligent tutoring systems(EPSS) and intelligent tutoring systems Distributed interactive simulation (DIS), Distributed interactive simulation (DIS),
game-based training environments, and game-based training environments, and distributed mission training (DMT) distributed mission training (DMT)
Benefits of Training TechnologyBenefits of Training Technology
Cost ReductionCost Reduction Reduction in Training TimeReduction in Training Time Pedagogical CapabilitiesPedagogical Capabilities Diversity and AccessibilityDiversity and Accessibility Other Benefits Other Benefits
Cost ReductionCost Reduction
Technology-based training can deliver a Technology-based training can deliver a training program for lower cost than more training program for lower cost than more traditional training methods traditional training methods
Reduces or eliminates many of the Reduces or eliminates many of the variable costs associated with the variable costs associated with the classroom classroom
The up-front costs associated with The up-front costs associated with technology-based training are significanttechnology-based training are significant
Reduction in Training TimeReduction in Training Time
Technology-based training often Technology-based training often leads to a reduction in the time that leads to a reduction in the time that individuals spend in training individuals spend in training
Less time off the job and greater Less time off the job and greater employee productivity employee productivity
Employees can learn precisely what Employees can learn precisely what they need to knowthey need to know
Pedagogical CapabilitiesPedagogical Capabilities
Highly personalized learning Highly personalized learning experience experience
Competency assessments can Competency assessments can provide trainees with personalized provide trainees with personalized feedback that is immediatefeedback that is immediate
Training technology can give Training technology can give employees an opportunity to practice employees an opportunity to practice using their skills and knowledge in using their skills and knowledge in realistic situations realistic situations
Diversity and AccessibilityDiversity and Accessibility
Online learning can level social Online learning can level social barriersbarriers
Increased access to individuals who Increased access to individuals who otherwise may be unable to attend otherwise may be unable to attend training or classestraining or classes
Other Benefits Other Benefits
Makes it possible to deliver a Makes it possible to deliver a consistent message companywide to consistent message companywide to all trainees or employees all trainees or employees
Technology-based training can help Technology-based training can help create an environment in which create an environment in which learners have more responsibility for learners have more responsibility for their personal success their personal success
Costs and Challenges of Training Costs and Challenges of Training TechnologyTechnology
Learner ChoicesLearner Choices Social Environment and CollaborationSocial Environment and Collaboration
Learner ChoicesLearner Choices
Trainees exit training prior to Trainees exit training prior to achieving mastery of the subjectachieving mastery of the subject
Trainees continue too long and Trainees continue too long and become inefficientbecome inefficient
Unwillingness to participate in online Unwillingness to participate in online coursescourses
Social Environment and Social Environment and CollaborationCollaboration
Minimal interactivity and Minimal interactivity and communication capabilities communication capabilities
Does not provide employees with Does not provide employees with opportunities to socialize and opportunities to socialize and network with their colleagues network with their colleagues
Factors Affecting EffectivenessFactors Affecting Effectiveness
Training contentTraining content Trainee characteristicsTrainee characteristics
Training ContentTraining Content
Content may repeat classroom Content may repeat classroom information (not effective)information (not effective)
Content may be heavily cognitive Content may be heavily cognitive ignoring other types of trainingignoring other types of training
Content may be a mix of classroom Content may be a mix of classroom and technology (more flexible)and technology (more flexible)
Trainee CharacteristicsTrainee Characteristics
Cognitive abilityCognitive ability Goal orientation of the traineeGoal orientation of the trainee Prior achievement and knowledgePrior achievement and knowledge ConscientiousnessConscientiousness Openness to new experiencesOpenness to new experiences
GuidelinesGuidelines
Leverage the Unique Instructional Leverage the Unique Instructional Capabilities of TechnologyCapabilities of Technology
Adopt a Learner-Centered Adopt a Learner-Centered PerspectivePerspective
Create a Supportive Learning Create a Supportive Learning EnvironmentEnvironment
ConclusionConclusion
Technology-based training offers the Technology-based training offers the potential to revolutionize training potential to revolutionize training effectivenesseffectiveness
Companies that realize this potential Companies that realize this potential will be better positioned to leverage will be better positioned to leverage their human capital for sustained their human capital for sustained competitive advantage competitive advantage