Work practices in the meat-processing industry have changed in recent years. The industry has moved away from workers dressing a whole carcass towards a chain-based system, with each worker performing a single task along a moving production line. The nature of the meat-processing workforce has also changed. It is no longer dominated by seasonal…

Data were gathered from a sample of training professionals of an American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) chapter in the southern United States regarding best practices for supporting training transfer. Content analysis techniques, based on a rigorous methodology proposed by Insch, Moore, & Murphy (1997), were used to analyze the…

America's community colleges are the brokers of opportunity for a stronger middle class and more prosperous nation. The value of community colleges has repeatedly been detailed in broad brushstrokes. While these broad-brush pictures of the community college contribution are important, the community college is an intricate institution offering…

This executive summary provides background information on unemployment rates, the need for new jobs, and the role community colleges have in securing opportunities for a stronger middle class and more prosperous nation. The summary is the introduction to the "Community College Contributions. Policy Brief 2013-01PB." [For the full report,…

When parents have secure employment and earn enough to meet their families' basic needs, children benefit in many ways. They are more likely to have decent and stable housing, good nutrition, and adequate health care. Secure employment supports healthy development in other ways as well. It can alleviate parental stress, prevent depression, and…

The paper explores the concept of self-directed learning (SDL) in the workplace. This paper introduces a definition and argument for the importance of SDL, presents conditions that promote SDL, and suggests how future issues and implications should be applied for greater understanding and utilization of SDL in the workplace. The significance of…

This article presents the results of research into how young trainees in the level III apprenticeship system formulate their educational and professional plans, what expectations they have of obtaining socially and professionally recognised qualifications, and in what way enterprises see such training as a strategy for providing human resources…

This article contends that where meaningful employment is coupled with education, that retention and successful course completion are much higher. (Editor)

Opportunities for training and development are paramount in decisions regarding employee career choices. Despite the importance, many research studies on job satisfaction do not address satisfaction with workplace training as an element of overall job satisfaction, and many job satisfaction survey instruments do not include a "satisfaction…

To improve America's economic outlook, positive action must be taken to lay the groundwork for a sustained increase in the rate of productivity. It is helpful to compare training methods, particularly apprenticeship, to those of West Germany, which has consistently maintained high production levels. (JOW)

Utah's Custom Fit Program (CFP) was reviewed in an attempt to evaluate a complex program. CFP provides funding to train employees of private businesses. In general, classroom training and on-the-job training for up to 500 hours is provided to full-time, entry-level employees of companies creating new jobs in Utah. Little legislative guidance had…

The report examines the potential of Social Security Administration data for manpower training evaluation. It assesses the utility of SSA data for comparing the economic gains of on-the-job training and institutional trainees before and after training. The methodology developed incorporates multiple correlation analysis, analysis of variance, and…

Discusses the advantages and limitations of a one-person training department in a small organization. Suggests that going it alone is seldom easy, but gives some thoughts and ideas on how to match trainer's skills most effectively with the organization's needs. (WL)