Just Say No

On-the-job training (OJT) is probably the most common training method, especially in smaller companies. But getting the maximum results takes commitment, structure and follow-through.

William J. Rothwell, associate professor of human resource development at Pennsylvania State University in State College, and author of Improving On the Job Training (Jossey-Bass), makes these suggestions for OJT:

• Articulate what you want to accomplish. You need specific goals to develop an effective program.

• Do an honest assessment of how you are currently handling OJT. Most companies do what Rothwell calls "the old `follow Joe around the plant' approach" because they've never thought of doing it any other way. But the lack of structure produces inconsistent results; when the training ends, you won't be sure what the employee has and hasn't learned.

• Identify one area to work on. Select one department or function to serve as your model.

• Develop a curriculum. Gather employees who are good performers, along with one or two strong managers, and ask them to list the particular activities required by the job you've identified. Organize those activities into categories, then sequence the work according to the way a newcomer should learn the job. Use that to create an organized checklist of what the new employee needs to learn.

• Train the trainer. Just because someone does a job well does not mean he or she is a good teacher. Invest in training programs to teach employees how to train others.

• Use traditional steps. The sequence is simple, says Rothwell: Tell, show, do, follow up.

A strong OJT program can be an effective tool for your human resources development program, Rothwell says. Once you have thoroughly researched the job requirements to implement training, you'll have a solid foundation for the selection criteria you use in making hiring decisions. This can help you develop better interview questions and skill evaluations. It will also help with career development of existing employees and suggest appropriate cross-training needs.

This article was originally published in the December 1997 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Just Say No.