DETERMINING TRAINING OBJECTIVES
After specific challenges are identified and training needs are diagnosed, the
hospitality manager must develop training objectives. Training objectives
should always conform to performance standards. In other words, objectives
should state the desired behavior and the conditions under which it should
occur. Training objectives, like performance standards, will serve as the standard
against which individual performance and training programs will be
measured. Consider the following performance standards that may be associated
with a typical task listed in the job description for a hotel reservations
clerk:
TASK: Process call-in hotel reservation requests
Performance standard: Performance will be satisfactory when the following
occurs:
* Hotel availability information is provided to call-in customers within 30
to 60 seconds.
* A one-party room reservation is completed within one to three minutes
after all information is obtained from caller.
* Confirmation information provided to callers is correct and complete.
Objectives such as these give both the employee and the trainer specific goals
that can be used to evaluate their success. If the objectives are not met, management
can use this information to assess the effectiveness of the training program,
the quality of the trainer, and the ability of the trainee.