Determining Effective Orientation and Training Methods

							Determining Effective Orientation and Training Methods



       Both    orientation    and    training   programs     are   essential   in    a   well-run

organization. While orientation helps to integrate a new employee into an organization & his

job, training helps the employee to acquire requisite skills to enhance his performance. An

effective employee orientation and training plan should be efficient yet flexible as it forms an

integral part of retaining good employees and managing performance. Such programs

increases productivity, decreases confusion, and provides satisfaction to both the Supervisor

and the employee. The organization should understand the value of a clear and effective

orientation and training plan for the long-term profitability of the organization.

       Orientation: New employees will often admit to feeling nervous about their new job.

Hence due care should be taken to acquaint them with all aspects of their new job and the

responsibilities and privileges that go with it. While the Orientation Program is being

conducted, they should be given appropriate documents and other relevant material so that

they can refer to them later. They should have open communication with their Supervisor

who can help to clear any doubts and to give them necessary information about their work

and the organization culture. They should be apprised of all benefits and privileges that they

are entitled to as well as all rules that govern employee behavior. They should be walked

around the office or factory premises and all processes and operations should be pointed out

to them. Even those processes and operations where the employee may not be directly

involved should also be pointed out so that they get a good overall picture of the organization

and are better able to work in teams. All safety measures and policies should be explained

and the location of safety equipment should be pointed out. An emergency drill can also be

conducted so that they know what to do in case of an emergency. They should be introduced
to all the other existing employees so that they are better able to integrate into the company

environment.

Orientation Plan:

   One person should be in charge of orientating new employees – either the Supervisor

    himself or any other employee to whom the supervisor may delegate this charge. This

    ensures consistency.

   New employees should be familiarized with the company’s broad policies as well as

    specific goals and objectives.

   The Supervisor should develop an Employee Handbook of the prevailing rules and

    regulations of the company, if such a handbook is not already available. This handbook

    should be given to all new employees. The handbook should cover all personnel policies

    containing details on hours of work, attendance rules, hierarchical rules, safety rules,

    terms of leave, sick leave, paid leave, probationary period, disciplinary actions etc. Any

    prevalent informal rules should also be communicated to him.

   The new employee should be clearly apprised of the nature of his job and his duties and

    responsibilities, as also the job expectations that the company has from him.

   During orientation, two-way communication should be encouraged

   The new employee should feel free to ask questions and any questions should be

    answered before he begins work.

   The employee should be made aware of the privileges that he is entitled to. Medical

    compensation package, Pension Plans, using the company car & other company

    equipment, expense account while traveling etc. and any other benefit should be

    explained to him.

   The employee’s pay package and perks should be explained in detail. Although the broad

    outlines are already decided during the hiring process yet the compensation package
    should be reiterated so that there is no ambiguity. His medical compensation package

    should also be clearly explained to him since this is a privilege that has assumed much

    importance nowadays.

   There should be general introduction all round so that the new employee feels

    comfortable and welcome to the new environment.



    Such detailed orientation will help a new employee to adapt well to the prevailing work

culture and also to feel comfortable about airing any new innovations and ideas that he may

have. Such orientation also greatly facilitates teamwork in teams where new employees are

inducted. Since the employee becomes clearly aware of all his perks and privileges hence he

is comfortable about all the benefits offered to him. It also increases the productivity of the

employee and hence the overall productivity of the organization. The employee is better able

to work at his new job with a clear picture of the overall goals and objectives of the company

without being limited by the narrow confines of just his own job. Orientation helps him to

take his responsibilities beyond just the duties assigned to him and to progress towards

achievement of the organization’s objectives.

    Training: Training is a very important aspect of the development of employees in an

organization. New and existing employees all require thorough and periodic training. Even

for existing skillsets of employees, refresher courses are required so that they are at par with

the latest advances in technology. Training needs of employees should be carefully assessed

before fixing the training programs. All training programs should be visualized and planned

keeping the overall strategic goals and objectives of the organization in mind. This will

ensure that the training program helps employees to attain skills that are directed towards

achieving the overall organizational objectives. Periodic training also helps an employee to

gauge his own level of skills and to know whether he needs to seriously upgrade himself.
Effective training programs help an employee to better his performance and his productivity.

He becomes better equipped to handle the responsibilities of his job.

Training Plan :

   An effective Training Plan should focus on building highly motivated, effective and

    efficient employees who will be capable of steering the organization towards its

    competitive best.

   Training should focus on the latest advances in technology in which the employees need

    to gain knowledge and skill for enhancing the company’s profitability.

   The Training Process should follow a clearly defined strategy and set of objectives that

    are structured with the company’s strategy and objectives in mind.

   Training needs should be identified by analyzing the long-term strategic plans of the

    organization, the job characteristics based on detailed job description and the actual needs

    of the individual employees.

   Training Course objectives should clearly state what behavior or skill is desired to be

    changed through the training program.

   The Trainers who conduct training should be carefully selected such that they are aware

    of the knowledge and skills necessary to make a productive employee and are aware of

    how to communicate with adults and the adult learning process.

   Prior to training, the skill level of the employee should be determined by interviewing,

    observing and enquiring of previous employers and references in case of new employees.

   Trainees should be carefully selected with due consideration to the ability of the

    employee to learn the material provided and use it effectively and efficiently.

   Training Methods adopted, whether on-the-job or off-the-job techniques, should be based

    on the reason for training, type of training and on the type of employee to be trained

    (new, existing, level of skill etc.).
   A Training Plan should be developed that focuses on enhancing the employee’s skill-set

    and helps him to develop new skills necessary for his new job.

   The Supervisor should prepare the new employee to learn and assimilate the new skills

    that are to be imparted to him by explaining the importance of the new skill and

    answering any questions that the employee may have.

   The training should focus on explaining the material thoroughly and making the tasks

    clearly understandable to a new employee.

   Training goals should relate to the mission and strategic plans of the company and the

    training goals should include milestones that show where the training program aims to

    take an employee so that he/she reaches where the company wants them to be.

   The Training Programs should be evaluated periodically through the process of

    evaluating the employee’s newly acquired skills with the objectives of the training

    program. If any discrepancies exist, these should be noted and the training program

    adjusted accordingly.



    Thus effective training and orientation plans are a must for an organization if it wishes to

ensure its long-term productivity and profitability. Such employee-specific activities also

help to attract and retain the best talent available in the field. Organizations should recognize

and value the importance of orientation and training towards attaining their goals and

objectives. Efficient programs should be put in place that makes full use of the latest tools

available. Such importance to detail will enhance a company’s economic worth and help it to

stay profitable in the long run.