Discusses performance analysis, designed for use in an organization's training program. It is described as a technology which views organization performance as a function of the individual and the job environment, in which any modification of performance has to deal with both parts. Examples of the use and benefits of performance analysis are…

Discusses various aspects of Training's business profiles, including budgets (salaries, raw materials, hardware, facilities, overhead), employee-to-trainer ratio, number of hours of training, training budget as a percent of total sales, and training budget as a percent of total payroll. (CT)

Mission statements, operating principles, and general philosophy statements for a human resources development department were drafted and readers asked to tell which of these philosophies, mission statements, and operating principles come closest to describing the way their training and development departments work. Results are presented and…

Looks at some of the realities of life with robots: robots aren't replacing entire shifts of workers; a robot is just a tool; regular plant personnel maintain robots; and job category and seniority dictate who is trained to maintain robots. (CT)

Discusses the marketing value and strategic necessity of planned and promoted customer education. The article examines customer training by the manufacturer as a definite trend in the microcomputer industry. Elements of a good customer training program are described along with suggestions for starting such a program. (CT)

An explanation of the way learning materials are developed at the American College is offered as a model for trainers developing their own materials. Personnel functions, the development of the construct lesson plan, and a videotape project are discussed. Suggestions for the individual trainer are offered. (EC)

Concern over basic communication skills in the workplace has led to the development of corporate training programs to teach effective listening, and to improve the style and content of written communications. (SK)

Discusses the complexity of the problem of unwelcome workplace sex. Gives a short history of the issue, the legal problems, advice for handling harassment, and the true cost of an office romance. Discusses training strategies which would be helpful in overcoming the problem. (JOW)

The wide range of practical thinking skills are teachable and learnable. By treating thinking as a teachable subject, trainers can help people develop and increase their brain power. (SK)

Offers comprehensive data on employer-based training in the United States and looks at training issues ranging from remedial training to drug testing and AIDS education to the transition to team-based work. Discusses money invested in training and who is getting what kind of training. (JOW)

Discusses the problems associated with having people from four generations in the training classroom. Offers tips for training people from age 20 through 70. (JOW)

Describes learning objects, also known as granules, chunks, or information nuggets, and likens them to help screens. Discusses concerns about how they can go wrong: (1) faulty pretest questions; (2) missing links in the learning object chain; (3) poor frames of reference; and (4) lack of customization. (JOW)

Information mapping is a unique method of organizing, writing, sequencing, and formatting learning and reference materials. The technique is applied to training, and a chart is provided to help trainers decide whether they should use information mapping in the preparation of their training materials. (Author/MW)

Bronson Sonic Power Company develops and presents its own multimedia training programs to give its field service engineers the background information they need. (Author)

The author looks at some of the myths floating around about whether and how a company should use films in its training programs. (Author)