How Learning and Employee Development Contributes to a Success of Loretto Care Organisation - Essay Example

The dissertation has made use of questionnaires and interview techniques to collect data from line managers at a voluntary sector social service provider, namely ‘Loretto Care’. The main findings of the research are: The managers at Loretto Care are of the view that investment in learning, development, and on-the-job training can be directly beneficial and can lead to success at the personal (employee level) as well as at the organizational level; and the main barriers to learning and the effectiveness of training as identified by the managers at Loretto Care include workload, time pressures and lack of internal motivation.

The respondents have pointed out a need to encourage registration with and alignment of training programs and employees with the SSSC requirements to ensure standardization and monitoring of the effectiveness of these programs. The main conclusion is therefore that development and learning programs for employees can effectively enhance organizational performance if there is robust planning to meet the needs and requirements of the organization and are culturally embedded via appropriately qualified line managers in undertaking their role.

Many organizations in today’s modern world realize the importance of employee learning and development and are spending money on the training of employees to enhance organizational productivity (Olaniyan and Ojo, 2008). There is a universally accepted need for enhanced performance and greater organizational productivity. In this regard, different organizations all over the world are trying to devise ways that can enhance their performance and ultimately their success in their respective sector. According to Ajibade (1978), cited in Olaniyan and Ojo (2008), man is a dynamic being and needs to be up to date in all spheres of life. Training the employees ensures that they are abreast with all the latest developments in their field and employers all over the world believe that this is helpful for organizational productivity.

There is a wealth of research that confirms the significance and impact of employee training on organizational performance in the private sector; however, a review of available literature revealed that similar studies in the voluntary and social services sectors are scarce. The current study aims to make a twofold contribution. Firstly it aims at adding to the wealth of existing research by focusing on the effective learning styles among employees and secondly it attempts to bring about policy change where needed, by investigating and highlighting the areas where appropriate policy might interact with effective learning and development among employees in the social sector.