Analyzing transfer of training and importance of training design: a case analysis of a leadership training programme
Student name: Ms Anannya Mishra
Guide: Dr Ritika Mahajan
Year of completion: 2018
Host Organisation: Thinkthrough Consulting Pvt. Ltd.
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Ms Elaine Colaco
Abstract: This study aims to assess the transfer of training and uses the training participants’ perspectives to explore the factors influencing it using a case analysis. The case under study is that of a leadership training programme conducted for garment factory employees in the last one year from the regions of Delhi-NCR, Bangalore, Chennai and Tiruppur in India. These trainings were mandated by a global brand. Data was collected in the form of in-depth interviews with 192 employees from 10 factories and analysed using the method of thematic analysis. The results indicated that training transfer took place effectively using the criteria defined by the trainers and permeated in to both the personal and professional lives of the participants. Training design emerged as the main influencing factor for this transfer. Specific design factors like use of learning aids, expectation of output, flexibility to contexts, patterns of communication and human-centric design were highlighted. This is supported by existing literature on concepts like active learning, performance support tools, overlearning and adult learning styles that are known to positively affect training transfer. However, some barriers to transfer were also identified like low trainee motivation. The relation between training transfer and training design was strengthened by instances showing ‘dilution’ of training design negatively affecting training transfer when using a trainer-the train model. These results suggest that training designs should aim to facilitate a personal connection between trainers and trainees, and keep the latter in the centre of the delivery.
Keywords: Training transfer, training design, thematic analysis, factory employees, leadership training.
