Training and Employee Development: a Systematic Approach to Training Competences – Case: Viking Malt Group
Alhasto, Emma (2023)
2023
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023051811770
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023051811770
Tiivistelmä
Training and employee development are critical practices for any organization seeking to maintain a competitive edge in today's fast-paced business environment. Case organization of this research, Viking Malt Group has launched a new strategy, which contains a strategic initiative “Our Engaged Team”, focusing on people development and culture. Related to this initiative, a need has been recognized to unify employee training and development practices across all Viking Malt operating countries to help the organization secure the right competences now and, in the future, in addition to ensuring best practice sharing and tacit knowledge transferring within the workforce.
The objective of this development-orientated thesis was to research employee training and development practices, and based on the findings create a project plan for establishing a common training program for the case company to be utilized across all operating sites and present suggestions on how to secure the necessary competences for the organization in the future. As a deliverable of this thesis, a preliminary project plan was created for Viking Malt Academy, a common training program for employees that will ensure common practices to train core competences, which was an important sub-project for the strategic initiative.
Theoretical framework of this thesis consists of three main themes: knowledge, competences and employee training and development processes. Theoretical background introduces the key concepts and helps to support the qualitative research conducted in the form of semi-structured benchmarking interviews for three case organization operating in similar business environments. Compiled data was analyzed utilizing thematic analysis. In addition to interviews, data was gathered inside the company in a form of a survey to understand the employee training needs and HR viewpoint on the requirements for the training program. Recommendations were made on best practices and processes that could be utilized when building the training program Viking Malt Academy.
All in all, the findings presented that the starting point for building the Viking Malt Academy training program should be at the core business competences, focusing mainly on the blue-collar employees in the first phase of implementation. Benchmarking interviews highlighted the importance of blended learning method and ability to accommodate different learning styles, as well as utilizing e-learning and other modern training methods. The results of the development project were gathered together, as a preliminary project plan with specified tasks and timelines to aid in the implementation to the practice. To summarize, the conducted research and development project brings important value for the case organization and works as a baseline for the strategic initiative sub-project that will be implemented over the coming years.
The objective of this development-orientated thesis was to research employee training and development practices, and based on the findings create a project plan for establishing a common training program for the case company to be utilized across all operating sites and present suggestions on how to secure the necessary competences for the organization in the future. As a deliverable of this thesis, a preliminary project plan was created for Viking Malt Academy, a common training program for employees that will ensure common practices to train core competences, which was an important sub-project for the strategic initiative.
Theoretical framework of this thesis consists of three main themes: knowledge, competences and employee training and development processes. Theoretical background introduces the key concepts and helps to support the qualitative research conducted in the form of semi-structured benchmarking interviews for three case organization operating in similar business environments. Compiled data was analyzed utilizing thematic analysis. In addition to interviews, data was gathered inside the company in a form of a survey to understand the employee training needs and HR viewpoint on the requirements for the training program. Recommendations were made on best practices and processes that could be utilized when building the training program Viking Malt Academy.
All in all, the findings presented that the starting point for building the Viking Malt Academy training program should be at the core business competences, focusing mainly on the blue-collar employees in the first phase of implementation. Benchmarking interviews highlighted the importance of blended learning method and ability to accommodate different learning styles, as well as utilizing e-learning and other modern training methods. The results of the development project were gathered together, as a preliminary project plan with specified tasks and timelines to aid in the implementation to the practice. To summarize, the conducted research and development project brings important value for the case organization and works as a baseline for the strategic initiative sub-project that will be implemented over the coming years.