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Peer Review

Employee Training and Development

Reviewed:

Dec 2, 2024 by Business
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Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.8 stars
Content Quality: 4.8 stars
Effectiveness: 4.8 stars
Ease of Use: 4.5 stars
Overview:

In this textbook, students are introduced to practical organizational training and development in the workplace. Students begin by examining the different theories of development training. This serves as the basis for a needs assessment using a SWOT analysis. Students examine the cost-effectiveness of training and the benefits and challenges associated with the use of technology in organizational training. Additionally, students examine how to determine the appropriate training methods.

Type of Material:

Open (Access) Textbook

Recommended Uses:

Recommended uses include:

  • 1.       Homework
  • 2.       In-class activity
  • 3.       Pre-lecture reading assignment
  • 4.       Supplemental reading resource
  • 5.       Professional development (e.g., employee development)
Technical Requirements:

Usd Chrome, Firefox

Identify Major Learning Goals:

At the end of this presentation, students will be able to:

  • identify various theories of developmental training
  • conduct a needs assessment using a SWOT analysis
  • conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine appropriate training resources and methods.
  •  Learn how to assess organizational training using tools, e.g. the SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats).
Target Student Population:

Introductory or intermediate level for majors in: 

  • Human Resources Management
  • Talent Development 
  • Employee Training
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

None

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:

  • A “support” tab is always visible along the right margin. This tab connects the reader to a help window.
  • The text eases gradually through degrees of learning difficulty, which is helpful to learners.
  • The text begins with the development training theories and concepts, then moves to types of training and training program design, and closes with evaluating training development.
  • The different chapters thoroughly explain the content. Several chapters that should be highlighted are Development of Social Groups, Pavlov's theory of Cognitive Development, Learning, and Memory, Types of Training, etc. 
Concerns:

  • The absence of a navigation bar or panel makes moving the through the text challenging.
  • The opening of each chapter is not gradual.
  • A  list of key terms, chapter summary, or introduction could help "ease" the reader into the text-heavy chapters. 

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The first five chapters of the text provide a good compilation of theories, concepts, and frameworks within which to understand training and development.
  • The inclusion of evaluation and effectiveness modules, in the end, helps learners to think beyond simply designing for and implementing training development programs.
  • Materials can be used to develop homework assignments and create discussion forums. 

 

Concerns:

  • Chapters are inconsistent in design and presentation. For example, Chapter 13 does not open with a list of learning objectives as the other chapters do. 
  • The use of graphics throughout the text enhances the readability of the text.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The navigation searching for the different chapters is easy.
  • Appropriate chapter selections.
  • Easy readability.
  • Overall, instructions are clear, and material usability is high.
  • A .pdf version of the text is available for download from the "Front Matter" page
Concerns:

  • Having to use the browser “back button” to navigate the text is not ideal. I found it difficult to navigate the text without a navigation bar or panel.
  • While there is a static page with clickable tabs that are able to take you to each chapter, that is a somewhat cumbersome way to navigate a 17-chapter text.
  • A glossary at the end of each chapter would be helpful.
Other Issues and Comments:

  • Overall, this is a well-designed, clear, and concise open (access) textbook. 
  • The quality of content is very good and allows the learner to gradually progress from theory to application. 
  • The text will be effective in teaching and learning about employee and training development. 
  • The text is easy to navigate. 
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