ABSTRACT
Companies spend huge sums of money each year on training. Training is a gigantic and expanding enterprise. Company training needs are classified in various ways. Many employees need training in skills and procedures, but these two categories are not very clearly defined. The United States (US) and British governments have thrown some weight behind the training effort, too, because they see training as a key to improved productivity and reduced unemployment. Companies are not fully aware, however, of how much they are spending on training, as an important US study shows. Very large transportation companies such as British Airways have special training needs arising from the vast geographical spread of their systems and the rapid introduction of new and more complex technology. Training costs will rise at least as fast as training expands to meet the needs, unless ways can be found to increase the cost-effectiveness of training.
