Work Environment Factors and Implications for Transfer of Training

Abstract

The majority of research on training transfer is descriptive and identifies or describes factors that may influence transfer without examining how these factors could be changed or managed. The application of learned knowledge and skills from training programmes is an area of concern to both HRD practitioners and academicians. Research has demonstrated that training efforts are unlikely to result in positive changes in job performance unless the newly trained competencies are transferred to the work environment. The study presents an empirical test of impact of work environment on transfer of training. It is hypothesized that there is no significant relationship between opportunity for skill utilization and transfer of training and supervisor support and transfer of training. These hypotheses were tested by serving questionnaires to 201 workers working in 20 industrial units. The results showed that there is a significant relationship between opportunity for skill utilization and transfer of training but there is no significant relationship between supervisors support and transfer of training. Finally, the implications of these results for future research and practice are also discussed.