Corporate T&D Best Practices Activity

Corporate T&D Best Practices Activity

STEP 1: Research and examine what you can find on companies regarding their training practices. Search widely as you may not necessarily find enough information just from the company’s website. Also, consult popular press and trade publications (i.e., newspaper articles, T&D trade publications).

Some possible companies to consider exploring include (an extensive but certainly not exhaustive list):

Saturn Ford Pepsi Google Apple General Electric

Harley Davidson McDonalds General Mills

Southwest Airlines Coca-Cola Toyota

Four Seasons Cheesecake Factory Starbucks

Wal-Mart Chick-Fil-A General Motors

Procter & Gamble Zappos Verizon

STEP 2: Identify three best practices that are related to training and development specifically (not simply best practices of the organization like being environmentally friendly).

One each from three different companies, not three from the same company.

STEP 3: Complete the activity worksheet below, using as much space as necessary. Be as precise and detailed as possible with your responses.

BEST PRACTICE #1:

1. In a single paragraph specifically describe the best practice below.

From the research that I did looking for the different training practices in various companies, I feel as though Apple was the best practice. I was fascinated when reading about the new and technological training they had to offer for their employees, but was not very surprised. Steve Jobs created Apple University for those employees who wish to complete the training and learn every detail about the Apple company as well as technology in the past, present and future. Steve Jobs basically left a legacy of how he was intrigued by technology and how it can redefine our future. Not all employees are required to take courses, but the ones who do are very highly considered and can work their way up into high levels of management which leads to many students at Apple University. The university is a very private place and no pictures have yet to surface. An Apple employee referred to the classes and university as a "vivid reflection of Apple and the image it presents to the world".

2. With what type or types of training does this practice most closely align? (e.g.,

lecture, simulation, role play, etc.)

I would say that this type of training most closely aligns lecture or simulation. No one specifically knows what goes on inside the classrooms of Apple University because the students are under contract to not speak of the details of the content or Apple's style of training. Clearly there is a lot of lecture type of training in which I assume there is a teacher speaking to his/her students, or lectures online. I think that inside of Apple University there is a plethora of different training styles used, maybe even some that we don't know about. I feel strongly about Apple because of how much they have done to technology over the years. Another reason I feel strongly about their training program is because whenever I go into an Apple store whether it is in Arizona, home in NJ or anywhere else, I am completely taken care of. I never have a complaint about customer service or the service they are doing to help me. Of course the Apple store has many people coming in and out every day, but they set up each store so they have the same layout and wait system. I find the Apple training to be very advanced and something that the world doesn't even know about.

******************************************************************

BEST PRACTICE #2:

1. In a single paragraph specifically describe the best practice below.

The second best practice I studied was Google, which reminded me a lot of Apple. The Google company has a program called "Googler to Googler," which places employees from across departments into teaching roles that would otherwise be filled by the HR department, or what Google refers to as "people operations". The class is part of the Google core curriculum, which includes courses on management, orientation, and skills such as public speaking. More and more employees are offering to teach the googler to googler courses around the world rather than outsiders which will lead the employees to teach about 55% of other employees. I find this great because all employees are getting involved and the more you show yourself and your ability the more likely they will hire you to teach others. This type of training also allows for the employees to learn more because they are learning from other employees, making it more casual and fun.

2. With what type or types of training does this practice most closely align? (e.g.,

lecture, simulation, role play, etc.)

I feel as though Google's types of training most closely aligns with role play and obviously lecture. The employees are being lectured on different management styles and skills as well as many other topics and in order to learn they are going to need to receive the information. I also said role play because they are allowing their employees to volunteer as teachers. The head of Google's people relations, Karen May said, " Giving employees teaching roles makes learning part of the way employees work together rather than something HR is making them do".

******************************************************************

BEST PRACTICE #3:

1. In a single paragraph specifically describe the best practice below.

The third best practice that I chose was a hard choice for me, but I chose McDonald's. McDonald's has been a huge corporation for many generations now and it is only expanding. The levels of training are truly endless and employees are constantly learning and moving their way up in the corporation. The offered training from McDonalds is either Hamburger University, Global Mobility, Leadership Development and Internships. I found it interesting to see how much McDonald's has to offer for all different types of people no matter where you are. Hamburger University is the company’s "global center of excellence" for McDonald’s operations training and leadership development. They offer hands on growth development as well as align you in the direction you think you want to go in the company. There are different paths of training for each level of employee, which allows for expansion of knowledge for that specific person. The global mobility allows employees to learn about the company on more of a global scale and how the company is benefiting from those different places.

2. With what type or types of training does this practice most closely align? (e.g.,

lecture, simulation, role play, etc.)

Like the other two practices, I think that this practice most closely aligns lecture. The in class setting seemed to interest me a lot in regards to training. I think that when employees are able to learn more about their company and how to manage each other as well as themselves, it requires less actual training. The people of these corporations need to learn the background of the company before they work for it. When they are in the classroom they are interactive with one another, share ideas, role play and do different case studies. I think that the university type of training is most beneficial because they are learning as well as staying involved and intrigued.

******************************************************************