Best Practices Q & A - Part 4

Question: “Why does my company regard attendance at educational seminars and classes as a “perk, something you earn the privilege to?”

Answer: “This common situation evolves from misunderstanding of the purpose of an education and training program. Typically, these are not connected to an organized, systematic improvement program, and so accomplish very little in the way of measurable results. Many companies have a long history of command and control cultures, in which changes are something that managers direct, not something the hands-on employee participates in.

Also, while the industry seminars at annual conventions can provide real insight and value (we think attendance at these should be an organized project to glean the most benefit by members of improvement teams), often they are just a form of vacation, which is unfortunate. There are other factors that can cause education and training programs to be a waste of money, of course, but this is the most common.”
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