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Describes a study undertaken to assess how private club managers perceive the relative effectiveness of alternative training methods to attain specific types of training objectives. Data were obtained from 123 club managers who were members of the Club Managers Association of America. Participants rated the effectiveness of 16 alternate training methods for potential use in six different types of training situations. Training methods studied included case study, video‐tape, lecture, one‐to‐one, role play, games, computer simulations, paper and pencil, audiotapes, self‐assessment, movies/films, multi‐media, audio, computer and video conferencing and sensitivity training. Training objectives studied were knowledge acquisition, changing attitudes, problem solving, interpersonal skill development, participant acceptance and knowledge retention. Analysis of data indicated that one‐to‐one training is the preferred method to attain all objectives except interpersonal skill development.

Data are presented which indicate a need for improvement in the personnel skills of small business owners. A set of criteria is then provided for possible approaches to training small business owners in personnel skills. These criteria were developed from interview material acquired in a field study of small business owners. They include: research substantiation of overall effectiveness; face validity; degree of efficiency of time use; ease of access; relative cost; degree to which the method involves criticism of trainees; and effectiveness in skill development. The training approaches evaluated or these criteria are the lecture method, programmed instruction; business games/simulation; the case method, the role play method, sensitivity training; the conference method; and behaviour role modelling. Results suggest that most small business owners would derive the greatest benefits from behaviour role modelling, business games, and/or role play method and would benefit least from the lecture method and sensitivity training.

In this paper, the authors focus on training as a frequently used knowledge management tool. This paper aims to help training function to achieve excellence at the first attempt by evaluating and deciding on the most interesting method for each training action before engaging the investment.

The authors apply instructional theories to evaluate the relevance of training methods and explored the multiple criteria decision analysis methods, which is a mathematical approach, for the evaluation to be rational. An experimental research based on study cases is also presented to test the applicability and effectiveness of the model proposed.

A decisional model that allows to choose rationally the most appropriate training method for each case. It is based on Elicitation and Choice Translating Reality (ELECTRE I) method, which is a multi-criteria decision analysis method and uses criteria from First Principles developed by Merrill in 2002.

The proposed model may have several implications for the improvement of training performance, particularly in the context of quality management systems that require product compliance based on continuous improvement and risk-based approaches. It can, therefore, be used as a tool to control the quality of training process or control the risk relative to the execution of a training action or more generally as a tool to “check” that training methods chosen are the most appropriate to attempt the training objectives before “act” the training action.

The combination of a decision analysis system with the theory of instruction and the applicability to training process management.

This paper aims to complement an earlier article (2010) in Journal of European Industrial Training in which the description and theory bases of scenistic methods were presented. This paper also offers a description of scenistic methods and information on theory bases. However, the main thrust of this paper is to describe, give suggested uses for, and then to examine the empirical research already conducted on three scenistic methods: skill charting, case‐based modeling and performance templates. The thrust of the research review is to examine the efficacy of each of the three methods.

Following the descriptive information regarding scenistic methods in‐general, each of the three specific methods (see above) are explained in detail as they might be used in training practice. Then, for each method, samples of the extant empirical research attendant to the method is examined.

With regard to the empirical research presented in the paper it is found that in most practical applications of the methods, employees trained with scenistic methods out‐perform employees trained with more conventional methods on some if not most of the variables under examination. The findings demonstrate that scenistic methods clearly have promise, although statistical precision is compromised owing to small sample sizes.

Studying the effects of different forms of training in these studies is constrained because the very nature and design of scenistic training approaches limits the number of trainees that can be included in a group. In brief, this means that results of use of conventional statistical tools demonstrate less sensitivity to group‐to‐group differences in performance. It is much easier to demonstrate statistical significance if comparing large groups of 60 or more individuals, each. Regardless, comparisons of groups in the reported studies demonstrate significant differences in performance following training on most variables.

Overall, scenistic methods show much promise for use by training practitioners as the available empirical research, in the field, demonstrates their value.

The paper groups together the findings of use of a variety of scenistic methods of training. There has been practically no research reported in recent years of the efficacy of methods such as these that use cases, incidents, stories, etc. to ground training and practice.

With the aim of discovering the important factors in training staff to use newly installed automated circulation systems, the appropriate libraries in New Zealand were sent a questionnaire in 1988. This asked how libraries had trained their staff, and the outcome of the training in terms of satisfaction with their decisions, sparseness of mistakes after implementation and time taken for staff to attain efficiency after implementation. The most important factors in training were that the vendor should be heavily involved in organizing and carrying out training; training should be given before the system went live; staff should be given detailed training in the whole system; and a number of different training methods should be used. These factors were especially important for libraries installing their first automated system, those installing integrated systems, those with few staff, and those installing their systems in the earlier years of automation; that is, those libraries whose staff have the least background in the system being installed, have the greatest need for excellent training.

Previous research has revealed that sales trainers have been reluctant to incorporate distance education training methods into their programs. This study investigated the effectiveness of six different teaching methods in delivering one sales training course to a national salesforce from one organization. Training methods ranged from no‐tech to high‐tec and included: an on‐site instructor, a written manual, a manual plus videotape, video‐conferencing, audio‐graphics and an interactive multi‐media computer‐based training program. Pre‐ and post‐training evaluations of course content indicated significant improvements. Media were evaluated in terms of training required, number of participants to be trained and other technical considerations. Measures of course content revealed no significant differences in terms of delivery methods. Strengths, weaknesses and situations for optimal utilization of media and delivery method were identified. Findings should assist sales training managers in making more informed choices among distance education delivery options.

The HRD profession is witnessing a revolution in its philosophy, programmes and methods. Training methods used in management education and training are either traditional, such as lectures, or modern, such as role playing or case methods. Lectures are only a method of transferring knowledge to adult learners. Modern training methods help adult learners to build their skills and develop their attitudes.

This study seeks to determine differences between recruitment processes and methods and training practices used in small and large businesses in the retailing, manufacturing, and tourism sectors in an emerging economy, Barbados.

The research utilized a quantitative survey covering 49 retailing, manufacturing and tourism‐oriented organizations to ascertain whether small organizations practice the procedures and methods outlined in the prescriptive literature on recruitment and training compared with large organizations. Institutional theory and resource‐based view informed the research.

It was found that recruitment processes and methods and training practices vary among small and large organizations. It suggests that, in Barbados, small businesses are likely to rely on informal recruitment methods and informal training practices compared with large businesses.

This study is only conducted across the retailing, manufacturing and tourism sectors in Barbados. The findings may have implications for management in other sectors, and small and large businesses in emerging economies.

The results provide academics and managers in both large and small businesses with insights into recruitment and training practices in small and large businesses in an emerging economy.

This paper contributes to the limited research done on recruitment and training activities among small‐sized and large‐sized firms in the English‐speaking Caribbean.

The application of technology in both its “hard” (for example through computing technology) and “soft” (for example through instructional design ) forms has enhanced the range of training methods available to practitioners. Much rhetoric has surrounded the use of techniques such as distance learning and computer‐based learning methods. The study aimed to explore the attitudes of managers to these “modern” approaches and other more “traditional” methods. A questionnaire survey of over 200 managers in organisations of all sizes and from a range of sectors was conducted. The data suggest that distance learning is not widely used as it is perceived as less effective, whereas at‐job learning, as well as being widely used is also perceived as being the most effective method. An analysis in terms of firm size revealed more similarities than differences between larger and smaller firms. The theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.

In the last four years, since Volume I of this Bibliography first appeared, there has been an explosion of literature in all the main functional areas of business. This wealth of material poses problems for the researcher in management studies — and, of course, for the librarian: uncovering what has been written in any one area is not an easy task. This volume aims to help the librarian and the researcher overcome some of the immediate problems of identification of material. It is an annotated bibliography of management, drawing on the wide variety of literature produced by MCB University Press. Over the last four years, MCB University Press has produced an extensive range of books and serial publications covering most of the established and many of the developing areas of management. This volume, in conjunction with Volume I, provides a guide to all the material published so far.