Assignment title - Training and Development

Introduction and guidance

Welcome to the Human Resource Development Assessment paper. In a fast-paced, ever-changing work environment organisations need to be constantly expanding and evolving their knowledge and skill base in order to build organisational and individual performance. And yet so often, they are faced with changes in the external environments that lead to severe budget cuts and ultimately impact on the training and development of their staff.

Research shows that in order to survive and thrive in a volatile environment,   many organisations areinvesting in learning and development that are aligned to their business so they can respond quickly to the business needs while continually keeping their own skills up to date (CIPD, 2015).

‘McDonald’s is a leading global food service retailer, with more than 36,000 local restaurants serving approximately 69 million people, in more than 100 countries each day.

In the UK McDonald’s has over 1,250 restaurants, serving more than 3.5 million customers every day. McDonald’s UK has introduced a new development programme designed to build performance consulting skills across the business. This is complemented by a Learning and development skills framework which focuses on the need to build relationships and work strategically’ (CIPD, 2015).

Task One: Essay Format ( Approximately1000 words)

LO1: Understand learning theories and learning styles

Write A Report – 1,000 words

Briefly compare the four main learning styles in human resource development theory that McDonald’s can apply across its workforce.

Explain

(i) the role of the learning curve in McDonald’s and the

(ii) importance of transferring learning to the workplace.

Assess the contribution of both learning styles and learning theorieswhen planning and designing a learning event in McDonald’s.

Guidelines

In order to complete the above task, you will need:

• Briefly compare the learning styles (for example, Kolb, Myers Briggs, Vark, Honey and Mumford).

• Describe and illustrate the learning curve

• Explain the role of the learning curve

• Explain the importance of transferring learning to the workplace

• Critically analyse (positively and negatively) how both learning theories and styles can contribute the planning and designing of learning events in McDonald’s.

Distinction One

Based on your answer provided in 1.1, critically evaluate the twomost appropriate learning styles that would help McDonald’sin designing their training according to their business needs.

Guidelines

• In order to complete the above task, learners will have to select two learning styles from their answer provided in Question 1 and justify their choice.

• Use appropriate Harvard Referencing technique and reliable academic source to answer this criterion.

Task Two: Write a report ( Approximately 1000 words)

LO 2: Be able to plan and design training and development

Using a report format,

Compare the training needs forthe restaurant manager, shift floor manager, and customer service assistant of McDonald’s.

Assess the advantages and disadvantages of using different training methodsin McDonald’s.

Using a systematic approach, plan the training and development for the restaurant manager, shift floor manager, and customer service assistant of McDonald’s.

Guidelines

In order to complete the above task, you shouldwrite a reportusing the appropriate headings:

• Describe and compare the training needs of the three stated employees at different levels (Top, Middle and Lower) of McDonald’s.

• Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different types of training using reliable sourceand appropriate Harvard referencing techniques.

• Prepare a brief plan with heading and actions.

(ii)Describe the major steps in the systematic approach to training in your plan (i.e. identify training needs, define the learning required, set objectives, plan and implement training, evaluate training).

(iii)Describe some of the key planning issues that you may face when designing the training plan (e.g. number of trainees, location, content, internal/external trainers, administration; training budget, training costs).

In order to complete the above task, you should:

(i) Describe 3 on-the-job and 3 off-the-job training  methods and

(ii)evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of both types of training using reliable sourceand appropriate Harvard referencing techniques.

Q.6 Using a systematic approach, plan the training and development for five of your staff at various levels of your organisation.(2.3)

In order to complete the above task, you should:

(i)Prepare a brief plan with heading and actions.

(ii)Describe the major steps in the systematic approach to training in your plan (i.e. identify training needs, define the learning required, set objectives, plan and implement training, evaluate training).

(iii)Describe some of the key planning issues that you may face when designing the training plan (e.g. number of trainees, location, content, internal/external trainers, administration; training budget, training costs).

MERIT ONE AND MERIT THREE

Using a report format, evaluate how apprenticeships training can help to meet the long term goals of your business.

In order to complete the above task, you should:

(i) Identify the current apprenticeship schemes available in the market.

(ii) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of apprenticeships training in your organisation using reliable sourceand appropriate Harvard referencing techniques.

(iii) Conclude your report by stating whether you would recommend other businessman to use apprenticeships training.

Task Three: Reflective paper (Approximately 1000 words)

LO 3: Be able to evaluate a training event

Prepare and carry out an evaluation for the training of the staff identified in the video using suitable techniques.Review the success of the evaluation methods used in conducting the above training event

Guidelines

In order to complete the task 3.1 and 3.2you should describe:

i) Why do we need an evaluation?

ii) Who should evaluate the training?

iii) What should be evaluated?

iv) When should evaluation take place?

v) How will the data be gathered?

vi) The evaluation models used to assess the training event.

In order to complete task 3.3, youshould:

Describe all the evaluation models (Kirkpatrick Model, The CIRO model and the ROI model) that are used as evaluation tools in organisations.

MERIT TWO

Select and evaluate three most appropriate formal and informal evaluation techniques that McDonald’s can use to improve its training program globally.

Guidelines

In order to complete the above task, you should:

Identify and analysethree most appropriate formal and informal evaluation techniques used during a training event.

DISTINCTION TWO

In your reflective report, critically evaluate two models of evaluation that McDonald’s could use for its training programmes across its franchises.

Guidelines

In order to complete the above task, you should:

• Introduce each evaluation models.

• Analyse the two evaluation models identified.

• Conclude with a recommendation on the models that McDonald’s could use to evaluate its training programmes across the franchises.

Task Four: Short structured answers (Approximately 1000 words)

LO4 Understand government-led skills development initiatives

Explain the role of the UK government in training, development and lifelong learning for the under 25’s sector.

Explain how the development of the competency movement has impacted on both the public and private sectors of the UK economy after the recession.

Analyse how contemporary training initiatives introduced by the UK government has contributed to the human resource development of both public and private companies.

Guidelines

• In order to complete the above task, you should:

• Explain the actions that the government is actually taking to encourage training, development and lifelong learning for the under 25’s sector.

• Define the competency movement and explain its impact on both the public and private sectors.

• Assess the contemporary training initiatives such as Learning and skills council, Train to gain, Apprenticeships, University for Industry and National skills Academics and show how they contribute to HRD for SME’s.

DISTINCTION 3

Critically evaluate howMcDonald’s is helping to bridge the skills gap of its restaurant managers in the UK.

Guidelines

• In order to complete the above task, you should:

• Demonstrate online research on the degree course in business management that McDonald’s is offering for its restaurant managers in the UK in order to fulfil the skills gap and provide better customer service.

Learning outcomes

LO1  Understand learningtheories and learningstyles   

1.1 compare different learning styles

1.2 explain the role of the learning curve and theimportance of transferring learning to theworkplace

1.3 assess the contribution of learning styles andtheories when planning and designing alearning event.

LO2  Be able to plan anddesign training and development   

2.1 compare the training needs for staff atdifferent levels in an organisation

2.2 assess the advantages and disadvantages oftraining methods used in an organisation

2.3 use a systematic approach to plan training anddevelopment for a training event.

LO3  Be able to evaluate a training event   

3.1 prepare an evaluation using suitabletechniques

3.2 carry out an evaluation of a training event

3.3 review the success of the evaluation methodsused.

LO4  Understandgovernment-led skills development initiative

4.1 explain the role of government in training,development and lifelong learning

4.2 explain how the development of thecompetency movement has impacted on thepublic and private sectors

4.3 assess how contemporary training initiativesintroduced by the UK government contributeto human resources development for anorganisation.