Continuous Learning and Professional Development Differentiating Training from Development

Training

Development

What It Is

Specific program designed to give workers skills and knowledge they will need to complete work-related and role-related tasks

Broadly defined by long-term goals, such as employee growth and performance, development refers to the measure of an employee’s contributions to the workplace over a period of time

How It is Applied

Typically whenever a new hire is onboarded or whenever a new employee is brought in to perform in a new role, training is applied over the duration of a few days or weeks to acquaint the worker with the information and practices that will be required to perform in the role. Techniques can include:

· Seminars

· Video training

· Reading material

· Shadowing

· Mentoring

Development is applied by conducting employee reviews, setting goals for the department and aligning the individual worker’s performance and goals with those of the department and organization. Development is measured by performing:

· Annual employee reviews

· Performance evaluations

· Direct observation

· Interviews with workers

· Other metrics

1

The difference between individual learning and development vs. organizational learning and development at Johnson and Johnson is based on the objectives that distinguish the two. The individual’s objectives are typically much smaller in scope and focus on specific actions or tasks that facilitate a larger process...

The organization’s objectives are typically larger in scope, farther-reaching, and more comprehensive and considered in terms of a final product or service. For this reason, learning and development is considered on more of a micro-scale for individuals and on more of a macro-scale for organizations. With that said, organizations do learn from what individuals are doing, so there is some relationship between the two. As Wilhelm (2017) notes, “Learning organizations and the people in them learn constantly from everything they do.”  They not only look at their past performance but they also look at the performance of others in the industry to see what they might be missing. They are constantly engaged in a process of continuous education to enhance production and performance. Everything the organization does is done with the view of keeping track, just like sports analysts keep track of players’ stats, to see how everyone and everything is performing, where performance is lacking, and what issues need to be addressed. Individual learning and development plays a part in organizational performance, and organizational learning plays a part in how employee programs, training, and metrics are used.
At Johnson and Johnson, one way that individual learning and development is promoted is through the use of TEDx Talks. This was also an organizational learning opportunity, too, as something like this had never been tried for the workplace culture. As Garguilo (2018) notes, “By inviting professionals from throughout the organisation to share their knowledge and experience, Johnson and Johnson engaged and inspired their employees.” This allows the company to share ideas with workers and to develop strategies to help them…