Assignement 4 EDU500

Assignment I: Defining the Learning Environment

Arita Gibbs

Dr. Marty L. Cummings

EDU 500 Adult Learning Theory

April 28, 2018

Introduction

Business is the exchange of goods and services for a profit. Business has proven to be the way to go since the most successful people on earth are businessmen and businesswomen. Young people used to work hard in school with the mindset that they would get white collar jobs and earn enough to live a comfortable life. This kind of thinking has faded over the years as the world seems to favor business individuals over employment. Organizations have taken competition a notch higher, and only the strong survive. This action calls for continuous training for all parties involved in the business. This paper will focus on a customer training session for an organization known as ABC.

Overview

ABC beverages are one of the world’s largest organizations when it comes to beverages. This company started way back in the 19th century and is best known for its unique soda sold throughout the world. The formula of this beverage is still a secret and keeps the company on top of its competitors. ABC company originated in North America but grew its roots in all parts of the world. It employs over 60000 people and generates gross revenue of about $35 Billion. The company has had steady growth over the years despite facing stiff competition from similar organizations and has a mission to refresh the whole world in three ways, body, mind, and spirit. Inspiring moments of happiness is their goal.

In line with the mission of the company, there are several set goals to be achieved within an allotted period. These goals will enable the company to achieve its vision relative to where they want to be in the next few years. This company has several projects that they support as a way of giving back to the global community. The projects are run by the local branches to help the community and create a positive impact.

Tasks for the Training

The beverage industry has had tremendous growth over the years. There have been new players come into the market and creating very stiff competition. Customers have a variety to choose from making it difficult for other beverage companies to develop a good market share. Companies are forced to go an extra mile in their advertising and packaging so that they can help their customers distinguish their products from their competitors (Cseh, 2001). ABC beverages are one of the organizations that have taken steps towards ensuring that they have a good market share.

ABC has done global training for their customers on some of the most important aspects of their business. The first training involves educating their customers on how to identify a beverage from ABC. This training is done regularly to help keep down confusing about ABCs’ products with any other beverage from the competitors. ABC can maintain its market share since customers will no longer be looking for any beverage on the shelves but ABC products. The second important aspect of customer training is the health aspect of ABC Beverages over their competitors (Hung, 2013).

ABC products are produced in the cleanest places you can ever imagine. High cleanliness standards are maintained since these are products that are meant for consumption. The beverages are also processed in a manner that they will have minimal or no health issues for the end user. The content information is written on the bottles of the beverages so that customers can know what they are consuming and if there are any health implications. The fact that ABC beverages have been in the market for a long time gives them an edge over their competitors (Mitchell, 2004). This good attribute will sell the company to the end users and grow the market share. It is human nature to fear new products in the marketplace. Most people tend to trust products that have stayed long enough in the market to win their hearts. The customer training should remind the customers of the number of years that the company has been in operation and strengthened their trust in the beverages.

Characteristics of the Intended Audience

There are different ways that ABC Beverages can select their target group for training. There will be no age limit so that as many customers as possible will come out. The public is familiar with technology. The training can be advertised online and even conducted online for some parts of the world. For those who are not familiar with the technology, they will have a trainer in their area to educate them on the same things as the online training.

These elements are used to select the customers eligible for training and maintain the market share already won. The number of potential learners for this training is probably in the millions. ABC beverages are a global company that enjoys a good number of consumers all over the world (Godfrey & Ostrom, 2011). Such training for customers is likely to attract millions of people who already use the beverages and some new customers. The gender of the potential learners is expected to be both male and female. ABC does not have a gender that will consume more than the other group. All people love soda, and it is expected that both genders will be present at the training.

The culture of the customers cannot be defined by the company offering training. It is important to remember that this is a global company and there are thousands of different cultures in the world. The culture of the customers will be determined by their locations and backgrounds (Kantner, 2008). The training will be friendly to all cultures leaving no one to feel like an outcast. This tool is in line with the company’s values to respect and embrace all cultures in the world. If the customers are to be selected, then all cultures should be put into consideration because everyone is equal.

The languages used at the training will vary from place to place. In most places, English will be used since most people understand the language. However, in places where they do not speak English, the local language will be used so that the objectives of the training may be achieved. Translators may be considered for places where English is not understood. The age of the potential learners will be set for anyone who holds a national identity card. Only adults should be at the training since they are the ones who consume the beverages. Even though children drink the beverages, the parents are the buyers (Cseh, 2001).

Self-Directedness

The customers are always very reluctant when it comes to customer training. Most of them are busy and lack the motivation to spend their time on training. The customers targeted for training are not self-driven to attend the training (Clover & Hill, 2013). The lack of self-directedness to attend the training means that the company might end up spending a lot of money for training that might lack an audience. Some customers might attend the training but leave halfway through. Ultimately, the intended purpose of the training may not be achieved.

Andragogy

Andragogy is the art and science of adult learning invented by Malcolm Shepherd Knowles. Knowles alleged that as people grew up, their learning capabilities and ways changed. Adults and children learn in different ways (Andragogy, 2012). He made five different assumptions about learning. As a person ages, self-concept matures from one of being a dependent personality towards one of a self-directed person. Secondly, experience gained as one grows up becomes a great learning reservoir. Knowles also says that a person’s readiness to learn matures as they age from childhood to adulthood.

Lastly, a person’s orientation to learn and motivation are internal and grow over the years. Andragogy seems to be the perfect model. This model seems to be the best for customer training since it explains the different ways that adults think and behave (Kantner, 2008). Past experiences affect the preference of customers and ABC can use that to their advantage to convince more people to buy their products.

Strategies

Reciprocal teaching is a good strategy that can be used to train the customers. This strategy enables them to understand the content and to teach others who missed the training. Elaboration and sequence strategy is also a good method (Clover & Hill, 2013). This strategy will help the customers take all their knowledge and past experiences and put it into practical, real-life situations.

Conclusion

From the above, we can see that customers are a significant part of any business. ABC Beverages recognizes that and has set aside enough resources to train the customers about their products. The main aim of the training is to maintain the already acquired market share and venture into new markets. Well trained customers can train others and ensure steady growth of the market share.

References

Andragogy. (2012). New York.

Clover, D., & Hill, R. (2013). Adult Learning, Education, and the Environment. New Directions For Adult And Continuing Education, 2013(138), 49-59. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ace.20053

Cseh, M. (2001). Continuing Professional Education in the Multilingual and Multicultural Environment of the 21st Century. Adult Learning, 12(1), 13-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/104515950101200107

Godfrey, C., & Ostrom, L. (2011). Examining committed customer relationships. [Moscow, Idaho]: [University of Idaho].

Hung, W. (2013). Problem-Based Learning: A Learning Environment for Enhancing Learning Transfer. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 2013(137), 27-38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ace.20042

Kantner, J. (2008). Adult Learning and Numeracy: Introduction. Adult Learning, 19(3-4), 4-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/104515950801900301

Mitchell, G. (2004). Adult Learning and High-Stakes Testing: Strategies for Success. Adult Learning, 15(3-4), 16-18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/104515950401500304