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