Training and Development Solutions

 

 

Training News from Contract Education at
Chabot-Las Positas Community College District

September 2015   
Aligning Talent Management Strategy with Business Strategy
Talent management is a strategic approach to creating a superior workforce, and reflects an organization's commitment to attract, develop, motivate and retain productive, engaged employees. Since the goal of talent management is to create a high-performance, sustainable organization that meets its strategic and operational goals and objectives, an organization's talent management strategy must be linked to its business strategy. Recruiting, developing, motivating and rewarding employees for job performance based on organizational goals are all essential aspects of talent management, and must be fully integrated into all employee-related processes, including job descriptions, training and development, performance goals, metrics and performance reviews.
 
The alignment of talent management to business strategy begins with a careful analysis of an organization's strategic and operational goals and objectives. Based on this analysis, the management team, in partnership with HR, can identify and understand the implications on talent strategy and planning. Once the team understands how the business objectives will impact the organization's talent, they can then define specific talent goals and initiatives and formulate their talent strategy and commitments, which may include:
  • Communicating and engaging employees in the organization's business strategy;
  • Implementing a leadership development program for high potential employees;
  • Developing a strategy for succession planning;
  • Conducting assessments at all levels of the organization to determine skills gaps;
  • Providing comprehensive training that addresses skills gaps;
  • Matching performance goals to business strategy and rewarding employees who meet their goals;
  • Designing recruitment programs to identify and attract the right talent.
Organizations that recognize the importance of adopting a talent management strategy that aligns with their business strategy can expect to be more successful in attracting and retaining the talent needed to achieve their strategic goals and objectives.
Employment Training Panel Provides Training Funds to Keep California Employers Competitive

The Employment Training Panel (ETP), a State of California agency that assists employers in strengthening their competitive edge, provides funding to employers to assist in upgrading the skills of their workers. Established in 1982 by the California State Legislature and funded by California employers through a special payroll tax, ETP is a performance-based program, providing reimbursement for training expenses to employers for employees who successfully complete training and are retained by their employers for at least 90 days.

 

Since its inception the ETP program has provided well over $1 billion to train over 800,000 workers for more than 80,000 California companies. ETP has funded a wide variety of training programs, including quality management principles, statistical process control (SPC), production techniques, computer skills, customer service, management skills and sales techniques.  San Francisco Bay Area companies were approved for training funds ranging from $39,672 to $422,928 in June, 2015.

 

Since employers determine their own training needs and how the training will be delivered, ETP requires employers to outline a detailed training plan as an integral part of the application process.  Applying for ETP funding involves a multi-step process, as outlined on the ETP website, where you'll find an interactive orientation, sample applications and many other resources.

 

Contract Education has helped a number of clients apply for ETP funding.  Recognizing that the application process can seem overwhelming to organizations applying for the first time, Contract Education has been able to walk employers through the entire process, from application to funding to training delivery.  Contract Education staff and trainers have attended ETP meetings, responded to Panel questions and are experienced at guiding applicants through the steps required to secure funding to train and retain quality employees.

 

For more information about how Contract Education at Chabot-Las Positas Community College District can help your organization develop leadership and employee capabilities to meet current and future challenges, contact MariAnn Fisher at 925.249.9372 or mfisher@clpccd.org.

Customized On-site Training Makes Learning Real

One of the most effective ways to build employee skills that can be directly transferred to the job is to deliver customized on-site training programs to functional or cross-functional workgroups. On-site training allows employees to develop their skills together, creating synergy in the learning experience and encouraging collaboration and communication to help promote a greater sense of teamwork and cooperation. In addition, a number of studies point to on-site training as more effective in promoting transfer of learning to the job because employees are better able to focus on course content in their familiar work environment.

 

On-site skill-building programs can be tailored to address an organization's specific challenges and issues by providing content that is relevant to the real world experience of employees. Courses focused on such topics as communication skills and teambuilding can incorporate interactive exercises, such as role-plays and case study discussions, designed to develop problem-solving skills and help resolve core issues that limit productivity and job satisfaction.

 

Customized on-site training makes learning relevant and real, which can not only bring an immediate improvement in job skills but also help organizations and teams more effectively respond to future challenges.

 

To learn more about customized on-site training available from Contract Education at Chabot-Las Positas Community College District, contact MariAnn Fisher at 925.249.9372 or mfisher@clpccd.org.

HR Magazine reports that companies investing $1,500 or more per employee per year on training average 24% higher profit margins than companies with lower training investments. 

   - Emad Rizkalla, HuffPost May 6, 2015
In This Issue
Training Tip: Icebreakers
Icebreakers are structured activities designed to help relax participants, open up group discussion and bring energy to what can sometimes feel like a more formal atmosphere. An effective icebreaker can help reverse the tendency for participants who know each other to congregate together and encourage people to form random groupings in a non-threatening and fun way.
Try this easy icebreaker before your next training session (or meeting):
  • Divide the participants into small groups of four or five people.
  • Ask participants to identify ten things they have in common with every other person in their small group, and encourage exploration of shared interests not related to work or physical appearance (hair color, clothes).
  • Ask one person in each group to take notes and be ready to read their completed list to the whole group.
  • Allow 5-10 minutes for the groups to brainstorm their common interests.
  • Ask each small group representative to share their list with the whole group.
The reading of the lists usually generates discussion and helps the entire group feel more connected and ready to share information and ideas during the training session or meeting.
About Contract Education
Contract Education at Chabot-Las Positas Community College District delivers employee training, consulting and related support services to public and private sector organizations, such as manufacturing, healthcare, construction, technology and government agencies. We provide customized, on-site learning solutions that are innovative, practical and cost-effective, including leadership development, management and supervisory training, skill building programs, compliance training and curriculum development.


For more information about how Contract Education can help your organization develop leadership and employee capabilities to meet current and future challenges, call MariAnn Fisher at 925.249.9372 or email mfisher@clpccd.org.

Contact Us
MariAnn Fisher
Economic Development and Contract Education
925.249.9372

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Economic Development and Contract Education

Chabot-Las Positas Community College District

7600 Dublin Blvd., Suite 102 ● Dublin, CA 94568

925.249.9372 ● www.tdsolutions.org

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