ASSESSMENT OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES: THE CASE OF METAL INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

Abstract

Metal Industry Development Institute is established with Ethiopian government, in the aim of capacitating the metal and engineering industries of the nation through; technical training, project management training, production planning training, environmental protection training, product design training, product development, spare parts and components production, laboratory service,...etc. To provide its service effectively to the industries, the institute provides numerous skill developmental trainings to the industries employees and its own employees. This research paper assessed the training and development practices which the institute offers to its own employees. A sample of 62 employees were selected from four core directorate and HR department, and 59 questionnaires which enclosed multiple closed ended questions were distributed and all collected. From the sample employees, 3 of them cannot be contacted due to abroad training. Interview was also conducted with HR head and 4-lead engineers. A 'purposeful sampling technique' been applied because trainings are mostly sponsored for employees under the specified directorates. The research specifically found out relevant point to training practices like; training link with the institute's objective, training processes used by the institute, trainees selection, and trainer selection. The data obtained through questionnaire and interview were presented and analyzed using simple descriptive analysis such as frequency and percentage. According to the data collected the findings shows that; trainings sponsored do not have tight link with the objective of the institute, there is no well documented training manual, internationally accepted training steps (TNA, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation)have not been applied, trainees are not selected based on the training policy of the institute, profiles of employees also does not considered for selection. Based on the findings, the researcher recommended, the institute to carefully revise its training practices for the success of training and organizational objectives.