The effect of soft skills and training methodology
on employee performance
Ibrahim, Rosli; Boerhannoeddin, Ali; Bakare, Kazeem Kayode . European Journal of Training and
Development ; Limerick 41.4 (2017): 388-406.
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RESUMEN (ENGLISH)
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of soft skill acquisition and the training methodology adopted
on employee work performance. In this study, the authors study the trends of research in training and work
performance in organisations that focus on the acquisition of technical or "hard skills" for employee training and
evaluating work performance. This study was conducted to redirect the focus of employee training and
development goals to the acquisition of soft skills, which have a very high and lasting impact on improving
employee performance.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a quantitative research approach. Questionnaires were administered to selected managers and
executives of a few Malaysian private companies. The questionnaire was specifically designed to examine the
competencies of various Malaysian-based company managers, executives and supervisors who had undergone a
soft skills training programme over a period of a few weeks or months. These soft skills training programmes were
not conducted consecutively, but rather with a break or "time-space" in between each session. The target
population in this study consisted of 810 employees from nine companies. The sample size was 260 trainees who
were selected from the population with a 95 per cent confidence level within 0.05 risk of sampling error.
Findings
Using regression analysis, this study estimated the relationships between employees' acquisition of soft skills, the
training methodology adopted by the trainer, and work performance. The results indicate that the two predictors -
soft skill acquisition and training methodology - significantly predict employee performance. The authors propose
the need for employers to redesign the methodology for training employees in soft skills. Based on the findings,
"time-spaced learning" is highly potent in undermining the hindrance associated with training transfer.
Practical implications
The findings of this study help to raise the awareness of employers, human resource managers, professional and
industrial experts and the government to rethink the need to improve soft skills training methodologies.
Specifically, this can be achieved by giving the trainees "space" or breaks to practice, apply and internalise what
they have learnt intermittently during the training programme. This will enhance employee performance, and
consequently, organisational performance. These findings also inform company managers that the time-spaced
learning method enables employees to acquire soft skills more effectively, which will invariably bring about
positive behaviour changes in employees towards their work and co-workers.
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Originality/value
The originality of this research is based on the fact that the results are peculiar to Malaysia, whereas most of the
literatures on training methodology especially the time-space and soft skill have focused on developed countries.
Furthermore, the study emphasised that time-space learning training methodology helps employees in transferring
knowledge acquired during training to their work. The research also emphasised that soft skills acquisition brings
about increase in employee work performance. This research shows 14.5 per cent increased employee work
performance in the selected companies because of their employees' acquisition of soft skills and a 27.9 per cent
increase in employee performance is based on time-space training methodology. This makes the investigation on
the effects of soft skills acquisition and the training methodology adopted on employee performance very
important for organisational survival.
DETALLES
Materia: Skill development; Performance management; Studies; Employee development;
Social skills
Lugar: Malaysia
Título: The effect of soft skills and training methodology on employee performance
Autor: Ibrahim, Rosli; Boerhannoeddin, Ali; Bakare, Kazeem Kayode
Título de publicación: European Journal of Training and Development; Limerick
Tomo: 41
Número: 4
Páginas: 388-406
Número de páginas: 19
Año de publicación: 2017
Fecha de publicación: 2017
Editorial: Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Lugar de publicación: Limerick
País de publicación: United Kingdom
Materia de publicación: Business And Economics--Management
ISSN: 20469012
Tipo de fuente: Scholarly Journals
Idioma de la publicación: English
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Tipo de documento: Journal Article
ID del documento de 1913332333
ProQuest:
URL del documento: [Link]
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Copyright: © Emerald Publishing Limited 2017
Última actualización: 2017-06-27
Base de datos: ABI/INFORM Collection
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