Perceived training benefits and training bundles: a Canadian study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the link between training and the perceived contribution of training to enhanced productivity or cost reduction. Using data from 92 Canadian organizations, the results show that organizations with higher percentage of trained employees are likely to perceive training to be beneficial. In addition, the results indicate that perceived benefits of training are further enhanced by the presence of human resources management practices that either encourages employees to undertake training (the motivation bundle) and/or provides a systematic assessment of post-training effectiveness (the assessment bundle). The evidence however also shows that open climate as measured by autonomous work systems nullifies the benefits of training, suggesting that under such a structure, employees are unlikely to put in practice the skills they acquired during training.

Keywords:

• Canadian organizations
• human resource management
• open climate
• training
• training benefits
• training bundles

Acknowledgements

Financial support for this study was provided by Social Sciences Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).