Trainees' reactions to training: shaping groups and courses for happier trainees

Abstract

The extensive use of training demands more extensive evaluations of its real effects. Human resource scholars attempt to develop multi-dimensional training evaluation models, often ignored by practitioners, whereas training managers tend to evaluate only reaction evaluations, the first dimension in several models. To provide more practically relevant research, this study includes five training parameters in a model that assesses trainees' overall satisfaction with training (OST), which results from perceived usefulness of training, perceived trainer performance and perceived training efficiency. Structured survey data from a sample of 13,753 trainees, grouped in 1230 courses, involving 3047 companies, and financed by an Italian inter-professional fund, confirm the role of all three antecedents of OST. Moreover, of the five course- and participant-related variables, participation of female workers (which is also a moderator variable), the length of the course and the type of target audience influence trainees' OST. These results provide useful implications for practitioners in shaping their courses and audiences to maximise the trainees' reactions.

Keywords:

• courses' and participants' characteristics
• moderator effects
• reactions evaluation
• trainee perceptions
• training evaluation

Notes

1. Source: www.fondimpresa.it; data updated September 2007.

2. The population of Lombardy (9.6 million) represents 16% of the Italian population, and it makes up (23,861 km²) 8% of the surface of Italy.

3. In Europe, there are 10 million SMEs that represent 55% of overall turnover and employ 66% of the workforce.