Aligning Training to Business Results

The article focuses on several paths that can help one align training programs to business goals successfully. Once one knows their management's destinations, they can help their organization get there by steering training initiatives in complementary directions. Frank Nguyen, senior learning technologist with Intel Corp., recommends placing the training function within specific business units to closely align with the bottom line. By associating with important functional business units, one would find it easier to promote important operational objectives. Katheryn Seiders, a business operations manager for Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s global clinical development, study strategy and planning group, reports that one of the operational concerns in drug development is the time it takes to get a new drug to market. One solution is to move from a functional to a matrixed team structure and get cross-functional global teams to work together efficiently. Facing constraints like downsizing and tight deadlines, most training professionals need to work in "the squeeze zone." That place is characterized by reduced budgets, faster turn-arounds and a shortage of subject matter expertise.