Effects of organizational, training system, and individual characteristics on training director scanning practices

A training plan identifies which work groups and individuals need training and what types of training are required. The usefulness of a training plan is, in part, a function of the scanning process used by training personnel to acquire information relevant for identifying training needs. For the present study, survey data were obtained from the CEOs and the training directors of 193 manufacturing companies to investigate the scanning process and the factors that might affect that process. Results indicated that training directors differed in terms of the proactiveness of information searched, the sources of information used, and the types (or content) of information considered to identify training needs. Regression analyses indicated that the centrality of training to the top decision‐making body of the firm was a critical factor in obtaining training‐needs information from a variety of sources and content areas. Practical implications of the results are provided and future research needs specified.