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Issue link: https://rock.epubxp.com/i/142549
FEATURE Item Number 11: I know how to provide constructive discipline when it is needed. Having the ability to discipline team members in a way that is not demeaning or embarrassing is a skill that most man‐ agers lack. While participants in this training event felt they had around average skills (rated at 4.5 on the pre‐survey), they raised the average rating to 6.1 on the post‐training survey. This significant increase would indicate the partici‐ pants learned a great deal on the discipline process during this training session. Item Number 12: I use positive reinforcement to encourage my team to improve. Prior to participating in this training event managers indi‐ cated they possessed the skills to encourage performance, which is indicated by the 5.2 average rating on the pre‐train‐ ing survey. The 5.3 average rating on the post‐training sur‐ vey would support they have the skill set to reinforce in a positive manner, which will encourage team members to work at a higher level. Item Number 13: I encourage my team members to provide suggestions to improve operations. When managers elicit input or suggestions from team mem‐ bers, it makes them (team members) feel like they are part of the group and encourages them to take ownership of tasks, projects and company initiatives. Participants in this training event indicated they encourage this practice in the workplace. The pre‐survey rating on this item was 5.7. Fol‐ lowing the program, participants rated themselves at 6.1 on this item, which indicates they gained additional information from the training. Item Number 1: By participating in this class I gained new information that will help me manage my team better. Participants responding to this item rated it well above aver‐ age (6.2), which indicates they feel they learned new infor‐ mation that will help them develop the skills they need to better manage their plant, project and team. Ninety‐six per‐ cent of those who responded indicated they gained new in‐ formation by being part of this program, 2 percent were uncertain and 2 percent disagreed. Item Number 2: The way I work with my team has changed, for the better, as a result of being in this class. This item was rated at 5.7 by those who participated in the training, which would indicate they believe the way they manage their team has improved as a result of being part of this program. A closer look at the data shows that 84 percent agreed with this statement, 13 percent were uncertain and 3 percent disagreed with it. Item Number 3: Because of this class I have developed better working relationships with my fellow managers. This item was rated above average (5.6) by those who par‐ ticipated in the class. Of those who participated in the train‐ ing, 89 percent believe they have developed better working relationships with others as a result of this class; 9 percent were uncertain and 2 percent disagreed. Item Number 14: Trust and credibility are critical to becoming a successful manager. Both before and after the training event participants rated this item well above average (6.4 and 6.3). Their high level of response to this item indicates participants view these as very important skills managers must hold if they want to be accepted and successful in a supervisory capacity. Results from Management Skill Development Evaluation In a previous article the authors indicated typical evalua‐ tions conducted on programs like this usually take the form of what Rae calls "reactionnaires" or "general feedback forms including a "Happy Sheet" relying on questions such as "How good did you feel the trainer was?" or "How enjoy‐ able was the training course?" Kirkpatrick suggests these types of surveys "do not constitute proper validation or eval‐ uation of training." (Comments taken from documents found on the internet). With this in mind, participants were asked to rate several statements regarding the instructors, the educational pro‐ gram itself, and what they believed the benefit of participat‐ ing in it might be. Another seven‐point Likert rating scale was developed and used in this survey. 14 ROCKproducts • JULY 2013 www.rockproducts.com