Training and Delivery Methods

Chrysler

The video produced by Chrysler introduced a number of effective techniques that were being used by Chrysler to assist employees in transferring their learning and knowledge from the classroom to the production plant. Initially, the learners are introduced through the concept of transfer of learning in the classroom to the idea that they were going to learn a new approach to problem solving; this was then accomplished through the use of problem solving techniques concerning a number of different problem scenarios.

One recent study determined that "the core idea of transfer is that experience gained in learning to perform one task can help improve learning performance in a related, but different, task" (Taylor, Stone, 2009, p. 1633). In this specific case, Chrysler was making the effort to ensure that problem solving techniques were used in more than just the classroom arena. It was Chrysler's desire to ensure that the same techniques they were teaching in the classroom, transferred to the production floor. The intensive problem-solving atmosphere was conducive to student hands-on involvement. According to the video, the students learned "how to identify the right problem" and after identification the students learned to "measure, confirm and validate" the problem as well.

When referring to an automotive production plant, identifying the problem can be very critical to the success or failure of a brand. Building automobiles is an exact science and correcting the 'right' problem translates into a customer's happiness, or lack thereof.

Once the students had gained knowledge of the concept as it was taught in the classroom, they were required to implement the knowledge in a workforce arena. Having learned to test their assumptions in a step-by-step procedure in the classroom their skills translated well to their new focus. As the video reports "classroom theory turned into classroom reality" once they fanned out into Chrysler's quality engineering center. Studies reveal that the quality of a workplace environment often will play a significant role in learner's 'attitudes, intentions and activities related to the transfer of learning' (Ginns, Kitay, Prosser, 2010). If that is true, then it seems likely that Chrysler's environment in the quality engineering center would be a very positive factor to the student's successful assimilation of problem solving.

When the students were introduced to the center, they found that they were faced with actual vehicle issues in which they were required to take a hands-on approach to solving those issues.