Professional Documents
Culture Documents
An Overview
Dr. Harsh Dwevidi* and Ona Ladiwal**
Today employees no longer are eager to join any new organization where their
knowledge and skills do not get upgraded. Providing opportunities for learning
is being used as a retention tool by large number of organizations. Attracting
and retaining employees have become a challenging task in the competitive
environment. Increase in training budget and providing proper training have
become the strategies of the best companies to magnetize, retain and get
highest quality output from the employees. This article explores the training
practices used by the Indian organizations for effective utilization of its workforce.
T
raining is a planned and systematic attitude to perform their jobs. Chowdhry
attempt to alter or develop (1986) remarked: Training is a process, which
knowledge/skill, attitude through enables the trainees to achieve the goals and
learning experience, so as to achieve objectives of his/her organizations.
effective performance in an activity or range Singh (1995) defined training as the
of activities. It is a very important aspect of process of changing attitudes, improving
any organization. According to Flippo, knowledge and developing skills of the
training is the act of increasing the persons/employees of an organization so as to
knowledge and skill of an employee for doing enable them to perform their jobs effectively.
a particular job. It provides employees with
the knowledge and skills to perform more Role of Training in an Organization
effectively. This allows them to meet present Training is a short-term process utilizing a
job requirements and also prepares them to systematic and planned procedure by which
meet the unavoidable changes that occur in non-managerial personnel learn technical
their jobs. However, training is an knowledge and skills for a definite purpose.
opportunity to learn. What is learned It is the most significant technique of human
depends on several factors, such as the design resource development. It plays quite an
and execution of training, the inspiration important role in achieving the individual
and learning style of the trainees, and the and organizational objectives. It aims at an
learning environment of the organization? organized assessment of the business
Taylor (1961) conceptualized training as environment including the external as well
a means to bring about a continuous as the internal environment, and accordingly
improvement in the quality of work ensures the management of available
performed, it would equip them with resource to improve the individuals
necessary knowledge, skill, abilities and knowledge, skill and capabilities in order to
* Director, R.A.Podar Institute of Management, Jaipur. The author can be reached at harsh_dwivedi1@rediffmail.com
** Lecturer, Swami Keshvanand Institute of Technology Management and Gramothan, Jaipur. The author can be reached
at onaladiwal@gmail.com
able to integrate it their organizational goals. on value creation for its multiple
In fact, the top management is taking interest stakeholders. Its core values are integrity,
in mentoring and leadership. For example, leading change, excellence, respect for
Narayana Murthy of Infosys is now acting as individual learning and sharing. This is one
Chairman of the board as well as Chief of the companies that believes in the
Mentor. In this way, they prepare the next trusteeship concept of management.
generation leaders for the company. To increase the knowledge and skills of
employees, this group has established a center
Aditya Birla Group
in Navi Mumbai known by the name
In all multinational companies of India, Gyanodaya. Gyanodaya has been envisioned
Aditya Birla Group is the most renowned. It as a hub, the backbone of a process that
is truly a value-based company and its vision sharpens the groups competitive edge.
and mission are rooted in Indian values. The Closely linked to the vision of the group is
group is driven by performance ethic pegged the Gyanodaya vision: To be at the core of
Training Practices in Indian Organizations: An Overview 33
an effective learning network that, as a participants; 215 external trainers; 50
strategic business partner, harnesses internal managers as faculty; and a customer
knowledge and intellectual capital, to rating of 3.73 on a 4-point scale.
contribute to Aditya Birla Groups vision of
Infosys
being a premium conglomerate.
Infosys Technologies Ltd. headquartered in
There are two ways of learning at this Bangalore, provides Information Technology
center: (IT) consulting and software services to
1. G-learning which takes place at clients globallyas partners to
Gyanodaya. The training calendar is conceptualize and realize technology-driven
accessible to employees via Aditya Disha, business transformation initiatives. It is very
the group-wide intranet. Participants can essential for the company to upgrade its
choose the program that they would like workforce regularly to compete in the global
to participate in. market. Retention of employees is the biggest
2. E-learning where learning is just a click challenge for every company. To overcome
away. The training program of Gyanodaya this challenge, Infosys provides training and
is classified as: development opportunities to its employees
right from the start. The company has bagged
Multi-tier Program: In this program, the many awards from ASTD as the worlds best
need of individual is fulfilled at different company for providing best training and
aspects. Training is provided in the aspect development opportunities to the
of leadership for young and general employees. The company is known best for
managers. its Global Business Foundation School which
Functional Program: Sales and customer runs the program for all fresh engineering
satisfaction are the ultimate goal of any graduates who join Infosys and prepare them
profit-making organization. To fulfill this for the technical and environmental
goal, Gyanodaya organizes this program. opportunities present in the market. The
In this program, skills are developed for Global Business Foundation School has
better sales and marketing. Besides this, various centers all over the world.
the program focuses on the supply chain
Infosys U
management.
Infosys has achieved awards for its Global
Role-specific Program: The role of an Education Center which was set up in 2005.
individual is very important for the This center provides training not only in
success of any team. In this aspect, technical skills but also in soft skills. It also
Gyanodaya organizes program to develop provides leadership program to new entrants
the competencies for individuals like to develop leadership qualities. New
marketing-head, unit-head, HR-head. engineering recruits undergo a 14.5 weeks
Business-focused Program: This training Initial Learning Program operated by the
program is designed for generating company. This aims to transform engineers
awareness regarding the current practices, from diverse disciplines into software
needs, and issues to a particular business. professionals and initiates them into the
Infosys way of life.
The Gyanodaya Scorecard
Since its inception in January 2000, Training Activities at Infosys
Gyanodaya has notched up many After joining Infosys, induction is given to
achievements: 190 learning events; 3,920 the employees, addressed by NR Narayana