Introduction
Increased competition coupled with massive globalization has led to the adoption of strategic human resource management practices. This is with a bid to ensure productivity and profitability through the human capital at large. Currently, most firms manage their human capital strategically. This is unlike long ago when human resource department was traditionally left to handle administrative roles. Strategic human resource management advocates for practises such as training and development, selection and recruitment of employees through psychometric tests, change management, coaching, and ensuring learning takes place within the organization among other practises. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that many firms seek to enhance productivity through their employees. This is done through not only recruiting qualified employees, but also through continuous training and development. Training and development is usually conducted immediately one secures an employment position within a firm and also in the course of his or her stay within the firm. The former is referred to as continuous training and development has several motivational benefits to employees and the firm at large. Additionally, it is worth noting that training and development can be enhanced through technology. This is because technology enhances communication in training and development. It is on this background that this paper seeks to discuss the role of technology in training and development. Moreover, this paper will highlight how training and development can be used as a motivational tool within an organization. This paper will focus on TESCO PLC and recommend the potential strategies that it may adopt so as to take full advantage of modern technology to enhance their training and development process.
Brief Background Information on TESCO PLC
TESCO PLC, founded by Jack Cohen in 1919 is currently considered the third largest food retail company in the word. It is a British company that operates within fourteen countries with its headquarters located in Hertfordshire. TESCO PLC deals with numerous products which range from beverage, clothing, home appliances, to financial services. TESCO PLC has several employees who are approximately 530,000. These employees work within TESCO PLC stores which are spread throughout the world. The stores managed by TESCO PLC are of different types and include supermarkets, department stores, superstores, convenience stores, hypermarkets, and cash and carry warehouses. TESCO PLC major competitors include Walmart, located in the United States of America and Carrefour whose headquarters is located in France. There are other firms which also pose stiff competition to TESCO PLC. As such, TESCO PLC must ensure competitive advantage within the global market through unique corporate strategies. One of the unique strategies that can be employed by TESCO PLC is strategic human resource management. From the above information, it is clear that TESCO PLC has a large workforce that is approximately 530,000 in number. Further, operating in fourteen countries makes TESCO PLC quite vulnerable to failure unless its employees are well trained and developed. This paper will recommend the potential strategies that TESCO PLC may adopt so as to take full advantage of modern technology to enhance their training and development process.
Use of Training and Development as a Motivational Tool
Training and development is conducted by organizations with an object of enhancing one knowledge and understanding of his or her duties. Training and development is done throughout ones` life within an organization. Organizations seek to ensure productivity and profitability through their workforce. As such, all organizations find it significant to train and develop their employees in order to maintain high standards, quality, and productivity. Additionally, organizations which seek to transform and make changes within their operations conduct training and development. All in all, productivity can be enhanced through motivation. Extrinsic motivation can be ensured through various means such as increased wages, good working conditions and environment, and training and development. As such, training and development can be used as a motivational tool within ban organization. The application of training and development as a motivational tool has numerous benefits towards the employee and the organizational at large. Firstly, training and development makes one to feel appreciated and part and parcel of an organization. This acts as a motivating factor since it makes an employee to view the organization as his or her property. This in turn ensures productivity and good performance as a result of increased appreciation and positive approach towards ones` duties. Secondly, training and development as a motivational tool enables one to become more knowledgeable and skilful. Through training and development, one is able to comprehend his or her duties in a more appropriate manner. Increased knowledge makes one more skilful and thus able to carry out more duties and make better decisions. This motivates one since he or she is able to contribute more towards the organization than before. Thirdly, training and development as a motivational tool increases one chances of growing within his or her career. Training and development is essential throughout ones` career life as it is used as a basis of promotion by many firms. As such, a firm that seeks to motivate its employees should organize trainings and development sessions. Moreover, employees should be given scholarships so as to seek further education and qualifications. An employee who is given a chance to develop his or her career is likely to be more productive. This is because he or she has a chance of being promoted within the same organization or another organization. Moreover, most people seek to advance their studies so as to get better wages and salaries through promotion from one job group to another. Fourthly, training and development can be used as a motivational tool since it makes employees feel more satisfied and competitive than their counterparts in other firms. Human being generally like competing and ensuring they are better than others. As such, it is normal for employees to compare themselves with other employees from different firms. It is, therefore, necessary for all firms to ensure their employees remain competitive within the job market. This can be done through enhanced training and development which will not only increase a firms` productivity, but also increase an individual employee`s competitiveness within the market. Lastly, training and development can be used to motivate employees since training and development addresses employees` weaknesses. Through training and development, an employee is able to gain more knowledge in various areas of studies. This enables him or her to perform his or her duties better by improving on the weak areas. Additionally, through training and development, all employees are brought within the same level. As such, employees who previously faced various difficulties are able to perform fairly well as their counterparts. This in turn motivates all employees who improve on their weaknesses.
Role of Technology in Enhancing Training and Development
The rapid technology development and enhancement has seen many people being laid off within various organizations. This is because most people are currently being replaced by machines which can be used to carry out automatic services that were previous carried out by human beings. The world is currently considered to be within the information era which is mainly facilitated by various applications, thanks to enhanced technology. Training and development within organizations has not been left out either. This is because trainers seek to ensure efficiency through the application of computer technologies. Traditionally, training and development was conducted through lectures, manuals, discussions, talks, and case study presentations. Well, these methods are still used to-date. Nonetheless, with increased growth in technology, trainers and organizational transformation staff are moving from the traditional methods to technologically enhanced methods. The training technologies employed by firms include computer-based training, intranet, internet, technology-based learning, and interactive videos. Additionally, trainers are able to use virtual realities, and DVDs to deliver knowledge and skills to employees. Technology continues to play an essential role in training and development within organizations in terms of costs and other constraints. Cost wise, firms are able to save on travelling costs and other related expenses such as accommodation through technology based training methods.
Technology based learning can be delivered through various means. These include tutorials, blogs, online forums, web conferences, virtual workspaces, and electronic mailing lists. Through tutorials, training programs are delivered through a computer disc or online. This enables learners to get information from trainers without their presence. This enables firms to reduce their expenses. On the other hand, through online forums, employees are able to interact with each other together with an instructor. Employees are able to get a lot of information through such forums which discuss specific topics of interest to employees. Likewise, electronic mailing lists allow employees to pose questions to each other. Technology based learning is also facilitated through blogs which are managed by individuals or corporates. Through blogs, trainer can maintain online journals which contain essential information needed by employees. Lastly, web conferences are organized by firms. These could be in form of audio or visual texts which are displayed to employees.
Technology based training has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of technology based training and development include time saving and productivity benefits. Technology based training and development is time saving since larger amounts of information can be stored and processed within a short period of time. As such, through technology based training, more information can be delivered to employees. Moreover, employees are also able to store the information given to them for future use and reference. Secondly, technology based training and development is advantageous since it enhances productivity of employees. This is because through technology based learning, employees are able to interact with each other and get timely responses and feedback from each other. Nonetheless, technology based training and development poses various challenges to organizations. Firstly, there are high initial costs of training. This is because the application of technology requires the purchase of new equipment. This may be costly to the organization. Secondly, development of technology based training and development requires various skills and knowledge. Employees and trainers may lack these skills. All in all, technology plays an essential role in training and development. From the discussions above, it is clear that technology based learning is better than traditional ways of conducting trainings. This is because technology based learning is not only cost effective but also increases productivity through transfer of more information to employees.
Potential Strategies that should be adopted by TESCO PLC
TESCO PLC has numerous employees who are employed within fourteen different countries in the world. In order to take advantage of the modern technology in training and development, TESCO PLC should adopt various strategies. In this section, this paper will highlight some of the strategies that can be employed by Tesco in enhancing training and development. First and foremost, Tesco should make use of web conferences. Through web conferences, Tesco will be able to deliver information to its numerous employees throughout the world. The concept of a web conference is applied by firms which seek to deliver similar information to many employees who are located in different places. As such, through web conferences, TESCO PLC will ensure all its employees within various parts of the world access similar information. Through a web conference, a trainer delivers information to trainees through a video. This saves on numerous costs such as travelling and accommodation costs. As such, a trainer who is located in one country is able to deliver information to thousands of trainees who are located in other countries. This strategy also ensures that employees access similar information which is required within the organization. The costs associated with web conferences are less as compared to organizing a real conference. As such, by organizing web conferences, Tesco will only incur the costs of purchasing equipment such as projectors and CD-ROMs which can also be used for other purposes. Secondly, TESCO PLC can adopt the use of intranet to train and develop its employees. Through the intranet, training journals and articles can be availed to employees located in various parts of the world. Intranets are also protected and can be only be accessed by authorized individuals. Intranets pose fewer costs which include development and maintenance costs. Lastly, Tesco can adopt electronic mailing listing strategy. This enables all employees in various departments to interact and learn from one another. A trainer is able to respond to questions posed by employees within the group. With this strategy, the only cost that will be incurred by Tesco is maintaining an instructor and the website through which employees are allowed to ask relevant questions.
Conclusion
In summary, training and development is carried out by organizations with a sole object of improving productivity and profitability at large. On the other hand, training and development can be used as a motivational tool within an organization due to various reasons. Firstly, employees become more satisfied through training and development. Secondly, training and development makes one feel more appreciated, therefore, approaching his or her duties with a positive attitude. Thirdly, training and development makes an employee more competitive within the market at large. Currently, technology plays a major role in training and development. Some of the strategies that can be employed by firms which seek to take advantage of technology to enhance training and development include web conferences, electronic mail listing, online tutorials, intranets, and virtual realities. This will ensure reduced costs and increased productivity within organizations.
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