Winning Management Approval for OJT

TeamOJT Tip of the Month for May, 2003

Here are some research-based facts that you can use to win management support for a structured on-the-job training program.

Research shows that:

an estimated 90% or more of an employee's learning occurs on the job
companies spend at least 6 times more on unstructured OJT than any other training
up to 1/3 of a new employee's 1st year salary is devoted to unstructured OJT
adults respond better to OJT than formal learning in classrooms
employees are more likely to remain with an employer who provides on-the-job rather than off-the-job training
structured OJT is superior than other training methods in revealing basic skill deficiencies
the quality of an organization's OJT directly impacts how long it takes to train newcomers, how quickly workers can be retrained to meet swiftly changing workplace demands, how satisfied workers feel about their jobs and working conditions, how workers perceive organizational management, how well equipped workers are to make quality products or offer quality service, and how well prepared workers are to adapt to new technology
employees achieve objectives faster through structured OJT than any other method
structured OJT shortens training time by 75-85%
structured OJT reduces employee anxiety and increases knowledge retention
poor, unstructured OJT is a major complaint among employees and causes many to leave or quit within 1 year
the greatest improvements in job performance occur when employees learn at the work site
structured OJT results in decreased error rates, higher productivity and increased training efficiency
the most effective training occurs when the training setting and job setting are as closely matched as possible
with unstructured OJT, the desired expertise is rarely achieved
adults want to learn only what they can immediately apply
structured OJT automatically incorporates all four adult learning styles
unstructured OJT results in a heightened sense among employees that management doesn't care--or does not know how poorly it is performing

Human Performance Applications
Phone: (206) 447-0860
FAX: (206) 447-3410
E-mail: diane@teamojt.com