Abstract
Studies on training (learning) participation in human resources development program in the organizations are very
sparse despites its importance in human resources development activities. This article tends to focus attention on
identifying the factors influencing the training participation in human resources development intervention. This topic
is very important in human resources development research because of the increasing concerns on e-learning dropout
rate, HRD measurement and evaluation.
A comprehensive review of literature is presented to identify research gap in participation and completion of HRD –
related intervention program. A conceptual framework of HRD training participation is proposed to describe the
pattern, factors, structure and the interrelationship between the variables. Finally, the usefulness and applicability of
the theory is discussed. In addition, the implication for future research will be discussed in detail.
1. INTRODUCTION
Training intervention in human resources development is very crucial issue in an organization. To an organization, it
is regarded as a means to achieve effective human resources development objectives. The effectiveness of HRD
program depends on the degree of participation of employees’ and hence, reflects in the intended business outcome.
Unlike in adult education research, the employee participates in HRD has received little attention among the
researchers. Presently, there is need for research on training participation because of the concern low participation
and high drop-out rate of e-learning within the industry.
According to a report cited by ASTD &The masie center (2001) only about 69 per cent of employees participated in
mandatory e-learning while 32 per cent of employees participated in voluntary training. Another report confirms that
more than 70 per cent of participants in the e-learning training program do not complete the online program
schedule. This is refers to as an ‘embarrassing secret’ corporate learning.
There is a clear indication that technology enhancing e-learning training program are faced with some challenges in
attracting participant to actively participate to completion. This challenge makes it necessary to conduct research an
in-depth research on this concept with the intention of finding the appropriate theory that will provide an insight for
the practicing manager to deploy an effective strategy to improve employees’ participation and preference for e
learning intervention program.
2. SIGNIFICANCE
The significance of building a well conceived theory of training participation in HRD program need further
comments. The intervention program is an investment activity with associated cost for the organization (Wang, Dua,
& Li, 2002). Participation to completion Is therefore a precondition for such an investment to be meaningful,
productive and fruitful.
Hence given attention to this topic and identifying important variables influencing participation through a well
conceived theory will provides organization with important approach to human capital investment Second, understanding the pattern and factors determining learning participation will enable organization to develop
policies and strategies to effectively motivate and increase employees’ participation. On the other hand, the drop-out
rate will be brought to lowest minimum.
Kirkpartrick (1998) describe four level of learning evaluation, while other theories have based their assumption that
training participation and completion is not a serious issue, his emphasis that without employees’ participation there
would be no outcome to measure them.
Few empirical studies has linked employee participation in training program with outcome evaluation (Baldwin,
Magjuk,& Lother, 1991; Hicks & Klimoski, 1987; Maurer & Tarulli, 1994). The relationship between learning
outcome measurement and training participation are of interest to the practicing managers. Spitzer (2004) argued
that training participation should be treated as zero level with respect to four level evaluation proposed. Here, only
those who participate actively to completion would be considered would be considered in the evaluation and
measurement HRD intervention program. None thless, all the group including the drop out, and those who are
totally absent are very relevant regarding the investment and potential business outcome of HRD intervention.
Most training program are initiated and sponsored by the organizations as a step toward achieving its goal, this
decision are made by the management. It is important to note that research on participation of training program is
very sparse most issue on this topic came alive on human resources literature around late 1980’s.
Hick and Klinoski (1987) conducted a study examining the relationship between employee degrees of choices in the
form of receiving information, when selecting a training program. The group of employees that seen themselves as
having a high level of freedom to participate in training are reported to have a favorable post training reactions and
a clear sense of achievement than those who are compelled or having little freedom of choice. This research is
conducted through field experiment. Baldwin et al, (1991) use similar experimental design to investigate the effect of
training choices on training outcome and subsequent motivation and learning process. The study stresses the
important role of providing choices of participation as a motivational strategy in training context. On the other hand,
the study finds out that if employees do not receives the kind of training they choose, it will definitely leads to poor
motivation and the learning outcome will be very poor.
Noe and Wilk (1993) explores the factors influencing employees participation in the training program, some of the
factors identified are self-efficacy and work environment perception as reinforced by learning attitude and the
developmental needs perception. Through empirical studies, motivation to learn was observed to be important
attitudinal variables.
An expectancy-valence model was proposed by Robinson (1997) to address the combination of social and structural
division of adult learners. In this model, the decision to participate was affected by a combination of negative and
positive forces within the socio-economic environment.
The theories and model explain previously, deal with adult learning in general. Their applicability to human
resources development is a subject certain limitations. These models are developed for the purpose of assisting the
policy makers in devising a commonly based adult education program and policies. (Merriam & Caffarella, 1999).
However, human resources development program are organizational based and are structured to achieve certain
organization’s objectives. Therefore, the variables that determine participation learning in adult education may vary
from that of human resources development program in an organization.
Learning program in an organization are drawn towards enhance job performance and improve productivity.
Employees are required to participate in the training program as a requisite for improvement in job performance.
Therefore, the decision to participate comes from the organization. However, for employees to participates in a
training program that are not recognized by the organizations he or she must obtained an approval from the
supervisor who will use his discretion to judge the relevance of the training to the overall goal of the organization.
The motivating factors that influence decision to participates in the training program are centre around organizational
goal, for instance, meeting management expectation rather than the individual personal interest which often the case
in adult learning, the desire for self enrichment (Moller, 1967).
Toward building theory with respect to learning participation in human resources development, it is important to
analyze and understand the nature, pattern and the parameters that determine employee’s learning participatory
behaviors. Next is to identify the effective strategies to assist organizations achieve the objective of employee’s
performance improvement and invariably contribute to business objectives.
Training intervention in human resources development is an investment activity for the organization(Wang, Dou &
Li, 2002).It is necessary for employees to fully participate in the program for the investment to be meaningful
productive and fruitful.
Studying on this subject will assist in understanding the factors influencing learning behavior in organization, and
this will assist organization in developing strategies and policies to effectively encourage, motivate and support
employees active participation.
Building on the previous research on employee’s participation in training, this article will examine the characteristics
of employee participation and decision making process.
The following section will examine literature on learning participation and motivation in human resources
development training intervention. The next section will present conceptual framework of learning participation in
human resources or the construct describe the factors and their relationships.
3.1 REVIEW OF PREVIOUS LITERATURE
This section review and analyze the previous studies on the human resources development and adult education to
establish a ground for building a learning participation theory for human resources development program.
Learning participation theories are directly linked with learning motivational theories because motivation to learn
comes first before the full and effective participation in training.
An investigation of motivational theory in adult learning was initiated by Houle (1961). Houle through interview
technique of study adult education identified three categories of learning motivation; goal oriented, activity oriented
and learning oriented. Several researches such as Sheffield
AbstractStudies on training (learning) participation in human resources development program in the organizations are verysparse despites its importance in human resources development activities. This article tends to focus attention onidentifying the factors influencing the training participation in human resources development intervention. This topicis very important in human resources development research because of the increasing concerns on e-learning dropoutrate, HRD measurement and evaluation.A comprehensive review of literature is presented to identify research gap in participation and completion of HRD –related intervention program. A conceptual framework of HRD training participation is proposed to describe thepattern, factors, structure and the interrelationship between the variables. Finally, the usefulness and applicability ofthe theory is discussed. In addition, the implication for future research will be discussed in detail.1. INTRODUCTIONTraining intervention in human resources development is very crucial issue in an organization. To an organization, itis regarded as a means to achieve effective human resources development objectives. The effectiveness of HRDprogram depends on the degree of participation of employees’ and hence, reflects in the intended business outcome.Unlike in adult education research, the employee participates in HRD has received little attention among theresearchers. Presently, there is need for research on training participation because of the concern low participationand high drop-out rate of e-learning within the industry.According to a report cited by ASTD &The masie center (2001) only about 69 per cent of employees participated inmandatory e-learning while 32 per cent of employees participated in voluntary training. Another report confirms thatmore than 70 per cent of participants in the e-learning training program do not complete the online programschedule. This is refers to as an ‘embarrassing secret’ corporate learning.There is a clear indication that technology enhancing e-learning training program are faced with some challenges inattracting participant to actively participate to completion. This challenge makes it necessary to conduct research anin-depth research on this concept with the intention of finding the appropriate theory that will provide an insight forthe practicing manager to deploy an effective strategy to improve employees’ participation and preference for elearning intervention program.2. SIGNIFICANCEThe significance of building a well conceived theory of training participation in HRD program need furthercomments. The intervention program is an investment activity with associated cost for the organization (Wang, Dua,& Li, 2002). Participation to completion Is therefore a precondition for such an investment to be meaningful,productive and fruitful.Hence given attention to this topic and identifying important variables influencing participation through a wellconceived theory will provides organization with important approach to human capital investment Second, understanding the pattern and factors determining learning participation will enable organization to developpolicies and strategies to effectively motivate and increase employees’ participation. On the other hand, the drop-outrate will be brought to lowest minimum.Kirkpartrick (1998) describe four level of learning evaluation, while other theories have based their assumption thattraining participation and completion is not a serious issue, his emphasis that without employees’ participation therewould be no outcome to measure them.Few empirical studies has linked employee participation in training program with outcome evaluation (Baldwin,Magjuk,& Lother, 1991; Hicks & Klimoski, 1987; Maurer & Tarulli, 1994). The relationship between learningoutcome measurement and training participation are of interest to the practicing managers. Spitzer (2004) arguedthat training participation should be treated as zero level with respect to four level evaluation proposed. Here, onlythose who participate actively to completion would be considered would be considered in the evaluation andmeasurement HRD intervention program. None thless, all the group including the drop out, and those who aretotally absent are very relevant regarding the investment and potential business outcome of HRD intervention.Most training program are initiated and sponsored by the organizations as a step toward achieving its goal, thisdecision are made by the management. It is important to note that research on participation of training program isvery sparse most issue on this topic came alive on human resources literature around late 1980’s.Hick and Klinoski (1987) conducted a study examining the relationship between employee degrees of choices in theform of receiving information, when selecting a training program. The group of employees that seen themselves ashaving a high level of freedom to participate in training are reported to have a favorable post training reactions anda clear sense of achievement than those who are compelled or having little freedom of choice. This research isconducted through field experiment. Baldwin et al, (1991) use similar experimental design to investigate the effect oftraining choices on training outcome and subsequent motivation and learning process. The study stresses theimportant role of providing choices of participation as a motivational strategy in training context. On the other hand,the study finds out that if employees do not receives the kind of training they choose, it will definitely leads to poormotivation and the learning outcome will be very poor.Noe and Wilk (1993) explores the factors influencing employees participation in the training program, some of thefactors identified are self-efficacy and work environment perception as reinforced by learning attitude and thedevelopmental needs perception. Through empirical studies, motivation to learn was observed to be importantattitudinal variables.An expectancy-valence model was proposed by Robinson (1997) to address the combination of social and structuraldivision of adult learners. In this model, the decision to participate was affected by a combination of negative andpositive forces within the socio-economic environment.The theories and model explain previously, deal with adult learning in general. Their applicability to humanresources development is a subject certain limitations. These models are developed for the purpose of assisting thepolicy makers in devising a commonly based adult education program and policies. (Merriam & Caffarella, 1999).However, human resources development program are organizational based and are structured to achieve certainorganization’s objectives. Therefore, the variables that determine participation learning in adult education may varyfrom that of human resources development program in an organization.Learning program in an organization are drawn towards enhance job performance and improve productivity.Employees are required to participate in the training program as a requisite for improvement in job performance.Therefore, the decision to participate comes from the organization. However, for employees to participates in a
training program that are not recognized by the organizations he or she must obtained an approval from the
supervisor who will use his discretion to judge the relevance of the training to the overall goal of the organization.
The motivating factors that influence decision to participates in the training program are centre around organizational
goal, for instance, meeting management expectation rather than the individual personal interest which often the case
in adult learning, the desire for self enrichment (Moller, 1967).
Toward building theory with respect to learning participation in human resources development, it is important to
analyze and understand the nature, pattern and the parameters that determine employee’s learning participatory
behaviors. Next is to identify the effective strategies to assist organizations achieve the objective of employee’s
performance improvement and invariably contribute to business objectives.
Training intervention in human resources development is an investment activity for the organization(Wang, Dou &
Li, 2002).It is necessary for employees to fully participate in the program for the investment to be meaningful
productive and fruitful.
Studying on this subject will assist in understanding the factors influencing learning behavior in organization, and
this will assist organization in developing strategies and policies to effectively encourage, motivate and support
employees active participation.
Building on the previous research on employee’s participation in training, this article will examine the characteristics
of employee participation and decision making process.
The following section will examine literature on learning participation and motivation in human resources
development training intervention. The next section will present conceptual framework of learning participation in
human resources or the construct describe the factors and their relationships.
3.1 REVIEW OF PREVIOUS LITERATURE
This section review and analyze the previous studies on the human resources development and adult education to
establish a ground for building a learning participation theory for human resources development program.
Learning participation theories are directly linked with learning motivational theories because motivation to learn
comes first before the full and effective participation in training.
An investigation of motivational theory in adult learning was initiated by Houle (1961). Houle through interview
technique of study adult education identified three categories of learning motivation; goal oriented, activity oriented
and learning oriented. Several researches such as Sheffield
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