Training & Development Course Project

Contents Introduction 3 Southwest Airline: 3 Traditional Training Method 4 Technology Based Training 7 Conclusion 9 References 11

In current era of development and growth, the number of businesses is increasing day by day. Removal of market hurdles and ease of doing business has increase the volume of the businesses and the scope of business operations as well. Due to which, the competition level among businesses are increasing rapidly. To cope up this competition level, businesses are paying extreme attention towards the improvement and development of their internal processes and employees as well. Learning of employees directly enables the businesses to increase the understanding, skills and expertise level of employees up to great extent. This increase in the employees learning level directly depends over the quality of the training facilities offered by the business to employees (Martin, 2007).

Southwest Airline is one of low cost carrier Airline Company of USA which incorporated its business in 1967 and commenced its business operations during 1971. Southwest Airline is known as world lowest cost base airline with a fleet size of more than 760 airplanes. Beside this, Southwest Airline is serving to more than 120 destinations throughout the entire world. From 2009 to onwards, the market contribution of Southwest Airline in USA domestic airline industry are increasing rapidly. From 2013 to onwards, Southwest airline is known as USA leading airline in terms of domestic airline operations. Currently, Southwest airline is serving at 101 different destinations throughout the entire United States of America. By March 2019, the total number of employees in business has reached up to 59,000. Southwest Airline is currently serving to more than 4,000 flights during a day on annual basis in entire world.

In recent three financial years, a considerable decrease has been arise in the net profit of the business despite a significant increase in the revenue level of the business. The operating income and net profit of the business are reducing rapidly. On other hand, the net assets and equity level of the business are increasing and the revenue level as well. But the decrease in net profit and operating income persuade the Southwest Airlines to investigate about the causes behind the decrease in the net profit of the business. The decrease in net profit of business reflects the irrational use of business resources by its employees and presence of o skills, less expertise and ineffective knowledge among the employees as well (Financial Statement 2018, 2019).

To increase the employee’s performance and learning level, Southwest Airline is planning to implement several training programs in this regard. In below, a brief description is made about traditional training method and modern technology base training method is made which can be used by Southwest Airline to enhance the learning level of the employees up to great extent.

There are several traditional training methods which Southwest Airline can use and implement as well. The extent of outcomes bring by these traditional training programs are highly critical and significant as well for the business. As much as the effects or outcomes of these training programs are intense, effective and long lasting, the Southwest airline can obtain that much benefits from such training method.

There are various traditional training methods which Southwest Airline can use. For example On job training ,case study, role plays, business games, simulations and behavior modeling are the key types of traditional training which a business can use. Every type of traditional training method hold various objects and aspects as well which the business can use. Despite of the positive features associated with different traditional training methods, the effects of On Job Training method is highly important and beneficial.

· On job Training:

On job Training refers to presence of effective teaching facilities available at the workplace of the employees through which they can increase their level of knowledge, competence and expertise among them. This training method emphasize to increase employee’s learning level at their workplace without disturbing the business cost volume and normal flow of business operations as well. Through this ,the instructor provide training at the workplace of the employee and limit the volume of time which incurred o other training programs carried at other place instead of employee’s workplace.

Through this, the employees become enough able to learn about new skills, expertise and knowledge level by learning at the real workplace environment instead of an artificial environment. This enables the employees to directly implement the learning outcomes of such on job training sessions at their real work life base situations. Through which, the employees can analyze and evaluate the effects of such training and learning programs towards real work life base problems and their solutions in a short time period. This increase the employee’s motivation level towards training program and persuade them to participate in training base sessions and programs more effectively and actively (Thompson, 2018).

Such on job training sessions brings several advantages and disadvantages towards employees of Southwest Airlines which are mentioned in below:

Due to such features, the trend of using On Job Training technique is still in trend. Southwest Airline can use this On Job Training technique to train its employees and to enhance their knowledge and expertise level regarding effective and rationale consumption of business resources. But beside these advantages, there are some disadvantages of On Job training as well which might affect the employee’s training level into an adverse or negative direction.

Southwest Airline must consider these negative aspects of On Job Training as well while implementing this plan for its employees.

There are several contemporary or modern technology based training methods which Southwest Airline can use to enhance the learning and knowledge level of its employees. There are several types of modern training methods like web base learning, social media learning, computer based learning or e-learning techniques, video trainings and instructor LED classroom training as well.

Southwest Airline can use any of modern training method but Web based training method is most suitable for Southwest Airline in this regard. Through this, effective distance based training programs can arrange with high features of ubiquity with least volume of cost and time simultaneously.

· Web Base Training:

Web Based training refers to conduct of any kind of training program arranged by business through use of internet or other e-learning techniques. Through this, business can arrange any training activity at any time regarding any type of content with in limited time period. Web based training include several latest technologies in training program like use of streaming audios ,videos, webinars, participation in discussion groups , forums use of instant electronic messages as well (Fertyu, 2018).

In below, a brief description is made about advantages and disadvantages of Web Based training program are made:

Southwest Airline can use any of the training method. But to make an effective and intense learning over employees, airline should first implement on job Training for its financial and accounts base employees to increase their learning. On other hand, Airline should adopt web based learning for its technical, maintenance, quality control, marketing and other administration base employees. Through this, both traditional and modern training programs will execute simultaneously and a considerable increase will arise in overall performance of business.

(2019). Financial Statement 2018. Southwest Airline. Fertyu, J. (2018, April 12). Web-Based Training (WBT). Retrieved August 16, 2019, from https://www.techopedia.com/definition/2544/web-based-training-wbt Kramer, C. (2019, April 8). WEB BASED TRAINING (WBT) – ADVANTAGES VS DISADVANTAGES. Retrieved August 16, 2019, from https://clou-media.de/web-based-training-wbt-advantages-vs-disadvantages/ Martin, E. (2007). Need of Traininng for Financial Performance of the Business. Journal of Employee Behaviour, 6(2), 67-74. Reddy, C. (2018). Top 11 Advantages and Disadvantages of On-the-job Training. Retrieved August 16, 2019, from content.wisestep.com: https://content.wisestep.com/advantages-disadvantages-job-training-methods/ Thompson, E. (2018). Advantages of On The Job Training. BBC.

3