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The politics of training needs analysis

The politics of training needs analysis
The politics of training needs analysis
Training needs analysis (TNA) refers to organisations' data collection activities that underpin decision making, particularly in relation to whether training, can improve performance, who should receive training and training content. There are relatively few models to guide training practitioners, and the models fail to fully capture the range of factors that affect the quality of training decisions. These models are based upon a unitarist and rational view of organisational decision making, ignoring the extent to which the nature of social relationships and dynamics within organisations may influence training-related decisions. Supporting this proposition, the article presents findings from a case study, suggesting that organisational politics as a result of self-interest, conflict and power relations, influenced the validity of the data provided by managers and subordinates during a TNA. Presents a framework to assist practitioners in recognising when and how organisational politics may affect TNA, and attempts to map the specific political dimensions that impact on training decisions, to guide future research in the area.
training needs, organizational politics
141-153
Clarke, Nicholas
65a3df67-32ff-4e0a-8dd6-a65b5460dca1
Clarke, Nicholas
65a3df67-32ff-4e0a-8dd6-a65b5460dca1

Clarke, Nicholas (2003) The politics of training needs analysis. Journal of Workplace Learning, 15 (4), 141-153. (doi:10.1108/13665620310474598).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Training needs analysis (TNA) refers to organisations' data collection activities that underpin decision making, particularly in relation to whether training, can improve performance, who should receive training and training content. There are relatively few models to guide training practitioners, and the models fail to fully capture the range of factors that affect the quality of training decisions. These models are based upon a unitarist and rational view of organisational decision making, ignoring the extent to which the nature of social relationships and dynamics within organisations may influence training-related decisions. Supporting this proposition, the article presents findings from a case study, suggesting that organisational politics as a result of self-interest, conflict and power relations, influenced the validity of the data provided by managers and subordinates during a TNA. Presents a framework to assist practitioners in recognising when and how organisational politics may affect TNA, and attempts to map the specific political dimensions that impact on training decisions, to guide future research in the area.

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More information

Published date: 2003
Keywords: training needs, organizational politics
Organisations: Management

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 36215
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/36215
PURE UUID: ad69b129-a3d2-4d41-9b56-6040ea9f0418

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Date deposited: 23 May 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 07:56

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Author: Nicholas Clarke

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