Workplace Training & Learning: Cases From Cross-cultural Perspectives
Editors: Ronald L. Jacobs & A. Ahad M. Osman-Gani
Publisher: Pearson Education Asia Pte Ltd	Format: pbk, 183 pages
ISBN: 9810675577	Copyright: 2005

PREFACE|EDITORS' PROFILE|WHERE TO BUY?

This casebook appears to describe training and development programs implemented in international organisations without much similarity to each other. However, this conclusion is not entirely true. A closer review should reveal at least one over-arching feature among the case studies. That is, all the cases represent training and learning programs that occur in the actual workplace, not in an off-the-job setting such as a training classroom within or outside the organisation. Where the training and learning occurs might not seem to be a significant variable to many global managers or human resources professionals. This might seem more of a logistical question. But, the point of this case book is that location has much to do with training effectiveness and, by extension, the organisational performance.

The following 18 case studies represent a variety of situations and approaches to training and learning in the work setting. The cases present companies operating in the following seven countries across Asia, Europe and America: USA, UK, Netherlands, India, Taiwan, and Singapore. Each case follows the same basic format: organisational setting, business problem, training and development process, description of the training, results of the training, lessons learned, and questions for further study.

The case studies can be used flexibly to meet a range of instructional objectives. The cases can be studied as entities in themselves as a means to engage in critical analysis.

Regardless of how the cases are used, the cases document a growing sense among global managers and human resource staff that employee training and learning programs are key investments for organisational success. Thus, how to ensure the effectiveness of these programs has become an on-going concern among all organisations competing in the global economy.


PREFACE|EDITORS' PROFILE|WHERE TO BUY?

Ronald L. Jacobs is professor of workforce development and education and director of the Center on Education and Training for Employment, The Ohio State University, US. Dr. Jacobs is a frequent contributor to the human resource development scholarly literature, having written nearly 100 journal articles, many book chapters and four books related to human resource development. He is the author of the book, Structured On-the-Job Training: Unleashing Employee Expertise in the Workplace (Berrett-Koehler, 2003), which has become the standard guide to help managers, quality engineers, and human resource development staff implement this training approach in organisations.

Dr. Jacobs has extensive consulting experience in both manufacturing and service organisations, having worked for numerous international organisations, including General Motors, KLM Airlines, Abbott Laboratories, Hyundai Motors, Seagate, Rohm and Haas, and Kuwait National Petroleum Company, among others.


PREFACE|EDITORS' PROFILE|WHERE TO BUY?