The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between adult learners' preferred learning style and preference for delivery mode. The subjects (n=61) were technical and billing support call center employees from an Internet company in Dallas, Texas. The participants were randomly assigned to one of six groups and given Kolb's Learning Style Inventory to assess their preference for learning style. They received training on three modules of “Influencing Others Positively,” with each module delivered via one of three methods (web-based, classroom, and blended). Participants were also administered two surveys. The first survey collected demographic information and asked which method that they expected they would prefer. The second survey was administered after the course and asked them to rank their preferences for delivery method. It was hypothesized that learning style would be significantly associated with preference for delivery method. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and a chi-square test of independence for the variables learning style and preferred mode of delivery. Although the chi-square test of independence did not produce statistical significance, some interesting trends were identified in the data. Specifically, a majority of the participants preferred a blended approach to training delivery (a combination of self-paced web-based training and classroom group exercises). No Divergers preferred classroom training and no Accommodators preferred web-based training. Additionally, a logistic regression analysis indicated that Assimilators were six times more likely than Divergers to prefer a blended approach to training (p=.10). Further studies should utilize other learning style theories, explore different types of learning outcomes and delivery methods, and include a larger sample from different organizations. Training needs assessments should include learning style inventories as part of the audience analysis prior to training development.

Grandy's Country Cookin' Inc. is a chain of restaurants specializing in fried chicken dinners. standardized instructional films were needed to teach employees Grandy's operational procedures. The producer was commissioned to make five films to provide visual job descriptions for new employees and managers. These fast-paced films depict actual job situations: "Chicken Cutting," "Breakfast Preparation," "Customer Relations," "System of Operation," and "Drive-Thru Relations," "System of Operation," and "Drive-Thru Service." An accompanying production book describes the making of Grandy's Training. The book examines the background against which the project was proposed, details the problems and procedures of production, and describes the experience of dealing with a client at a professional level.

M.A. / Through experience and interviews held with industrial social workers and because of changes in the environment, it was found that the industrial social worker is unsure of what is expected of him/her and of the direction in which the profession is going. The future and priorities are vague and there is uncertainty regarding how to prepare for it. The aim of this study is to define the role and function of the industrial social worker as it currently exists in the industrial environment and to provide a future scenario for industrial social work ...

A call taker is the first point of contact in the emergency service system and thus the interface between the caller and ambulance dispatch. Misunderstandings in an emergency call have implications for the survival of patients. Using an applied conversation analytic approach this study examined participants’ use of conversational repair as an interactional strategy. Data included 101 calls from a South African emergency medical services call centre. The data set was comprised of two distinct subsets, namely: the 107 and public corpora. The 107 corpus (53 calls) contained calls from a general emergency call centre. The 107 caller thus served as a mediating party on behalf of the public caller. The public corpus (48 calls) comprised calls received directly from members of the public. The data subsets afforded a unique opportunity to analyse ways in which participants to an emergency call manage asymmetries of knowledge. Differential patterns of the type and purpose of repair were tracked across both data sets and similarities and differences were explored. Both data sets showed that participants’ choice of interactional strategies was customized based on an ongoing assessment of knowledge asymmetries. However, whilst knowledge asymmetries posed some constraints an overriding interactional constraint, inherent within the institutional nature of the emergency call, was a rigid adherence to routinized protocols. The call taker’s dilemma was thus identified as the management of these constraints through the frequent use of conversational repair. Although a level of responsiveness is required to glean quality information from callers, high volumes of emergency calls would not be possible without routinized protocols. However, increased orientation to routinized protocols led to a decreased orientation to responsiveness. This research therefore showed that knowledge symmetry is not necessarily more advantageous but that successful call trajectory is reliant on the call taker’s ability to maximize the collaborative nature of the interaction and effectively negotiate through the judicious use of repair and other relevant interactional strategies. This has important implications for call taker training.

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A new generation, Millennial Generation, is currently staffing summer camp programs. Camp directors need to be aware of the differences in learning styles this generation prefers. The Millennial generation is the first to grow up with the instant accessibility of the Internet. This project was created based on suggestions from Camp Directors and ideas that have been developed from the study of this generation. A pre-camp video game training script has been created and tailored to the Millennial camp staff in order to encourage Millennials to learn and use the information needed to take proper care of campers.

Thesis (M. Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / Although a number of studies have recognised the relationship between human resource development (HRD) and organisational performance, the mechanisms through which HRD leads to school performance remain still unexplored. The purpose of this study is to clarify the significance of human resource development and its effect on school performance in the White Hazy Circuit, in Mpumalanga Province. HRD plays a critical role in directing school programmes and the realisation of the set goals. Educators and the management of the schools are the engines in the operation of the school. Alignment of the individual goals to the school goal creates a comprehensive working environment. The purpose of HRD is to build a capacitated workforce that will enhance school performance. Performance management does not entail one activity only, it is part of the employee development life cycle. The results of the survey indicate that performance management and the development processes should not be underestimated. School managers should ensure that goals are clearly communicated. Thus, this study does not only support that HRD has a positive influence on school performance but also explains the mechanisms through which HRD improves school performance.

Thesis (MPA.) --University of Limpopo, 2014 / iii ABSTRACT Government Institutions are in terms of the Skills Development Act, (Act 97 of 1998), required to develop employees in order to achieve good and effective performance. The Act makes provision for the development of Workplace Skills Plan by government institutions and mandates these institutions, including Government Departments, to budget at least 1% of their payroll for training and development of employees. It is, however, not apparent whether or not the developed Workplace Skills Plans are in line with the employees training needs and training interventions. As a result, the essence of this study is to determine how to align employees training needs with the Departmental Workplace Skills Plan in the Limpopo Department of Health. In addition, the study investigates whether or not training interventions in the Limpopo Department of Health are informed by the identified skills needs. The type of research methodology used in this study is the quantitative approach, which is in the form of a structured questionnaire. The main finding of the study is that although the Limpopo Department of Health developed the Workplace Skills Plan, training interventions were not aligned to it. In addition, a large percentage of the respondents was not aware of the skills audit exercise that the Department undertook. This study also reveals that the post-training evaluation which was done by the Department did not contribute to important subsequent training interventions. The key recommendation made is that the Limpopo Department of Health should make employees aware of the skills audit exercise the Department often undertakes. Additionally, Personal Development Plans should be continuously used to identify pertinent employee training needs relevant for the Departmental Workplace Skills Plan KEY WORDS • Limpopo Department of Health • Workplace Skills Plan • Personal Development Plan • Skills Audit • Training Interventions • Training Needs Analysis • Employees Training Needs

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M. Tech. Business Informatics / Addresses the adoption of emerging technology through blended learning. In the study, the Department of Home Affairs has just adopted a new traveler processing system. To use this emerging technology, employees had to be trained, and blended learning was seen as an appropriate training style. The emerging technology, the new passport scanning readers, posed challenges that are unpacked in this mini-dissertation.