Employee productivity is determined by how much they Learn and Develop (L&D)

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Learn and Develop (L&D)

Learning and development (L&D) may be a valuable instrument for resolving skill gaps, enhancing workplace culture, and increasing employee engagement and retention. Furthermore, investing in L&D is widely seen as one of the most effective strategies for organisations to boost their ROI and overall financial performance. In fact, that, according to Deloitte, the acquisition of new skills has emerged as a key human capital trend (Deloitte,2019)

Distinguish between training, learning, development and education


(Source: E-Learning, 2014)

In this blog post, I'll go through the essentials of learning and development. I'll investigate what it is and what your responsibilities as an HR professional involves. I'll also provide some examples and best practices to assist you with creating an HR learning and development plan that will help your employees succeed. 


What is learning and development in HR (L&D)?

Learning and Development is one of the main responsibilities of any organisation's HR department. It is usually the responsibility of the HR manager, but in larger organisations, the development plan may be managed by a designated L&D position or department. HR and L&D need to work in parallel, as there is a degree of overlap in both areas. HR professionals deal with a range of responsibilities, while the learning and development department focuses on one specific role: the professional growth and skill development of employees. This includes identifying training gaps and developing employee training programs that are aligned with the overall business strategy (Personio,2023).

Key learning styles:

Kolb's Learning Cycle (1984)

Kolb's Learning Cycle is a widely used model in the field of education and training. The model was developed by David Kolb, an American educational theorist, in the 1970s. The cycle is a four-stage process that describes how individuals learn through experience.

The four stages of Kolb's Learning Cycle are:

  1. Concrete Experience - This stage involves the learner's direct experience with a situation or event.
  2. Reflective Observation - This stage involves the learner's reflection on the experience and the gathering of information about it.
  3. Abstract Conceptualisation - This stage involves the learner's attempt to make sense of the experience and to create generalisations or theories about it.
  4. Active Experimentation - This stage involves the learner's application of the theories or generalizations in a new situation or context.

Kolb's Learning Cycle suggests that individuals learn best when they engage in all four stages of the cycle. In other words, learners need to have concrete experiences, reflect on those experiences, create abstract concepts or theories based on those experiences, and apply those theories in new situations to fully understand and internalize the learning.

According to Boud and Walker (1998), Kolb's Learning Cycle has been widely used in education, training, and personal development settings. They suggest that the cycle can be used to structure learning activities and to encourage learners to engage in all four stages of the cycle.

                                                              (Source: EPM,2020)


VAK Learning Styles (1979)

The VAK learning styles model is a popular theory in the field of education and psychology that suggests that individuals have different preferred ways of learning. The model was developed by Neil Fleming in the 1980s and is based on the idea that people have a dominant mode of processing information, which can be classified into three main categories: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic.

  1. Visual learners prefer to learn through visual aids such as diagrams, pictures, videos, and written instructions. They often have a good spatial sense and can visualize concepts easily (Neil,1980).
  2. Auditory learners prefer to learn through listening to lectures, discussions, and recordings. They often have a good memory for spoken information and enjoy participating in discussions (Neil,1980).
  3. Kinesthetic learners prefer to learn through hands-on activities and movement. They often enjoy physical activities and like to manipulate objects to understand concepts (Neil,1980).

                                                         (Source: Cambridge College,2019)


Creating Learning and Development Strategy

When it comes to development and learning (L&D), there is no adaptable approach. The strategy you use will be determined by the training needs of your sector and the jobs within your firm, as well as the size of your company. In bigger organizations, L&D is typically highly organized and formal, while in smaller businesses, training is often casual and unstructured. However, regardless of your industry or organisation's size, there are best practices to consider when designing and implementing your L&D plan. (Cat,2022)

  • Evaluate your training requirements.
  • Plan your learning and development methods and materials.
  • accept mobile learning.
  • Personalize the learning experience using technology.
  • Assess the impact of learning and development on business performance.
  • Learning and development should be monitored and evaluated.
  • Make continued learning and development a priority (lsaglobal,2023).

Learning and development examples in top companies

Amazon

(Source: Wikipedia:2016)


Amazon made a commitment to investing $700 million on training for employees in 2019. The intention was to upskill team members by giving nontechnical employees access to technical skill training. Amazon provided training seminars to employees at all levels of the organization. With this program, the e-commerce behemoth was able to solve talent shortfalls. It also enhanced employee motivation by encouraging employees to pursue their professional ambitions (Amazon jobs,2023)

Adobe

(Source:Wikipedia,2020)

Adobe's learning and development strategy focuses on creating an employee community where everyone feels included and has equal opportunities. They have created unique training programs to help all employees gain new skills and reach their full potential. They also run the Leadership Circles program to help high-potential female employees achieve their career aspirations. The program aims to diversify the leadership pipeline with talented female leaders (Adobe Blog, 2017)

Cisco

(Source:Wikipedia,2020)


Cisco offers an extensive library of learning and development resources for their staff, including certifications, instructor-led courses, cross-training, and other training formats. They also rotate high-performance employees through a range of assignments to broaden their skill sets and career opportunities. Additionally, Cisco runs Cisco Leadership Series and Cisco University, an online portal, to help employees manage their individual careers (Ravi,2022).



REFERENCES

Adobe Life Team (2017) Learn it all at Adobe.[blog entry] 26 July. California: Adobe Blogs. Available from https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2017/07/26/learn-it-all-at-adobe [Accessed 9 April 2023].

Amazon Job (2023) Raising the bar on employee growth and development.[online] US: Amazon Inc. Available from https://www.amazon.jobs/en/teams/learning-development [Accessed 9 April 2023].

Boud, D. and Walker, D. (1998) Promoting reflection in professional courses: The challenge of context. Studies in Higher Education, 23(2) 191-206. Available from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03075079812331380363 [Accessed 9 April 2023].

Cat, S. (2022) What is the Role of HR in Learning and Development (L&D)?.[blog entry] 27 January. Wales: factorial. Available from https://factorialhr.com/blog/learning-and-development/#creating-an-hr-learning-and-development-strategy [Accessed 9 April 2023].

Deloitte (2019) Learning in the flow of life.[online] UK: Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited. Available from https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/human-capital-trends/2019/reskilling-upskilling-the-future-of-learning-and-development.html/#endnote-sup-3 [Accessed 9 April 2023].

Fleming, N. D. (2011) VARK: A guide to learning styles.[online] Accessed from https://vark-learn.com/introduction-to-vark/ [Accessed 9 April 2023].

lsaglobal (2023) 4 FACTORS TO DESIGN THE RIGHT L&D STRATEGY FOR YOUR COMPANY. [online] Available from https://lsaglobal.com/4-factors-to-design-the-right-ld-strategy-for-your-company/ [Accessed 9 April 2023].

Personio (2023) What is Learning & Development (L&D)?.[online] Available from https://www.personio.com/hr-lexicon/learning-and-development-l-and-d/#ld-101-building-your-strategy [Accessed 9 April 2023].

Ravi, C. (2022) Continuous Learning at Cisco Leads to Career Advancement, Best-in-Class Networking Solutions. [blog entry] 29 March. US: Cisco Blogs. Available from https://blogs.cisco.com/networking/continuous-learning-at-cisco-leads-to-career-advancement-best-in-class-networking-solutions [Accessed 9 April 2023].






Comments

  1. SHRM Beyond COVIDApril 10, 2023 at 10:28 AM

    Hi Chamuda, your blog post provides a good introduction to the importance of learning and development (L&D) in the workplace and the role of HR professionals in implementing L&D program. If you would permit me, I would like to add a few other aspects which might complement your thoughts, apart from the training aspect you alluded to in your blog, as per (Gore, 2023) organisations could also focus on using coaching or mentoring programs for L&D, where experienced staff dedicate time and effort to coaching new employees. You can also use job rotation whereby an employee is exposed to different business areas within your company, they develop skills they might not otherwise have and a deeper understanding of and commitment to the company as a whole.

    Another trend is video-based learning, particularly when delivered via mobile apps, for example, microlearning sessions of 3-5 minutes which can take on important lessons between important tasks (Wills, 2023: Gore, 2023)

    All the best, Nithila

    References

    Gore, E. (2023) 7 Types of Training Methods (and How to Choose), ELM Learning. Available at: https://elmlearning.com/blog/training-methods/ (Accessed: 10 April 2023).

    Wills, J. (2023) Learning & Development Trends for 2023 and Beyond. Available at: https://www.stratx-exl.com/industry-insights/learning-development-trends (Accessed: 10 April 2023).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HRM solving the ''productivity Obstacles'' - Chamuda FernandoApril 12, 2023 at 1:46 AM

      Thank you for your valuable input and additional insights Nithila, it's always great to hear other perspectives on the topic of L&D in the workplace. Coaching and mentoring programs, as well as job rotation, are indeed effective methods of learning and development that can help employees grow and develop their skills. Video-based learning and microlearning sessions are also great alternatives to traditional classroom-style training, especially in today's fast-paced work environment where employees have limited time and attention spans. These methods allow employees to learn at their own pace, on their own time, and on their preferred device. Thank you for sharing these insights with me.

      Delete
  2. Nilushika Dilhani JayasingheApril 10, 2023 at 5:23 PM

    You are talking about meaningful topic Chamindu . Learning and development is the method of accruing value in employees in human resource. This includes evaluating employees for potential skill gaps and then developing it, “on-boarding” new staff and honing the skills of current employees. Learning and development is about creating the right culture and environment for individuals and organizations to learn and grow. It's knowing the current and future capability needs of the organization, as well as how to create a learning culture that drives engagement in ongoing professional development. The goal of Learning and development is to align employee goals and performance with that of the organization's. Those responsible for learning & development within an organization must identify skill gaps among employees and teams then develop and deliver training to bridge those gaps.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HRM solving the ''productivity Obstacles'' - Chamuda FernandoApril 12, 2023 at 1:49 AM

      Thank you for your insightful comment on the importance of learning and development (L&D) in the workplace, and how it is a crucial aspect of human resource management. I appreciate your focus on creating a culture of learning and development within an organization, as well as the need to align employee goals and performance with the organization's goals.

      Your mention of evaluating employees for potential skill gaps and developing them, and the importance of on-boarding new staff, is spot on. Additionally, I agree with your emphasis on identifying skill gaps among employees and teams, and then developing and delivering training to bridge those gaps.

      Thank you again for sharing your thoughts, and for your valuable contribution to this discussion.

      Delete
  3. Lasni GunarathneApril 17, 2023 at 3:54 AM

    Great article Chamuda. It is clear that learning and development (L&D) plays a crucial role in enhancing employee productivity and overall organisational performance. Investing in L&D is seen as an effective strategy for organisations to address skill gaps, improve workplace culture, and boost employee engagement and retention. Various learning styles, such as Kolb's Learning Cycle and VAK Learning Styles, can be considered when designing L&D programs to cater to diverse employee preferences. Best practices for creating an L&D plan include evaluating training requirements, planning learning methods and materials, incorporating mobile learning, personalising the learning experience with technology, monitoring and evaluating L&D efforts, and prioritising continuous learning and development. Examples of successful L&D strategies in top companies like Amazon and Adobe demonstrate the positive impact of investing in employee training and development.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HRM solving the ''productivity Obstacles'' - Chamuda FernandoApril 18, 2023 at 11:06 AM

      Thank you for your comment. Your insights on the importance of learning and development (L&D) for employee productivity and organisational performance are well-supported by existing literature. Several studies have shown that investing in L&D can lead to improved employee performance, engagement, and retention, as well as better business outcomes (Baldwin & Ford, 1988; Chen & Huang, 2019; Hameed et al., 2021).

      Kolb's Learning Cycle and VAK Learning Styles are two popular learning styles that can be used to design L&D programs that cater to diverse employee preferences (Kolb, 1984; Fleming & Mills, 1992). Best practices for creating an L&D plan include conducting a thorough training needs analysis, selecting appropriate learning methods and materials, incorporating mobile learning and personaliesd technology, monitoring and evaluating L&D efforts, and prioritizing continuous learning and development (Noe, 2017).

      Examples of successful L&D strategies in companies like Amazon and Adobe demonstrate the potential positive impact of investing in employee training and development. For instance, Amazon's Career Choice program provides employees with pre-paid tuition for in-demand fields, resulting in improved employee engagement, retention, and satisfaction (Amazon, 2022). Similarly, Adobe's Learning Fundamentals program provides employees with access to personalised, just-in-time learning resources, leading to improved employee performance and development (Adobe, n.d.).

      Delete
  4. Pham Hai LongApril 20, 2023 at 3:40 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

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