Study of the dimensions that relate to the effectiveness of training systems : a systems approach

The purpose of this thesis is to explore dimensions that relate to the training systems effectiveness in a number of industry categories. The training system is taken as part of the reproducer boundary subsystem within the organisation (Miller 1978). The research has been developed on the assumption that no single criterion is appropriate as a measure of effectiveness of a training system (Campbell et al 1970). An index of criteria based on the different organisational variables that interact within an organisation is employed in the development of the study. In this research the structural variables (independent variables) including industry category, size and formalisation factors of the sample organisations will be related to the effectiveness of training systems in their organisations. This research attempts to formulate hypotheses in the field of training system research to contribute to a theory of training system impact studies. The popular areas of research in the field of training have mainly tended to focus separately on the effectiveness of training programmes, the economics of training, the social impact of training and the dynamics of training. To my knowledge there is no research work that tests the relationship between structure and the effectiveness of training systems.