Describe the forces affecting the work place and learning. How can training help companies deal with these forces?

Discuss the relationship between formal training and development, informal learning, and knowledge management. How are they related to learning and creating a learning organization?

What steps are included in the training design model? What step do you think is the most important? Why?

What are intangible assets? How do they relate to training and development?

How are companies using training and development to benefit them in todays economy?

Training Professionals continue to debate whether the ISD model is flawed. Some argue that ISD should be treated as a project management approach rather than a step- by- step recipe for building training programs. Others suggest that ISD is too linear and rigid a process, that it is the primary reason that training is expensive, and that it takes too long to develop. ISD focuses on inputs; management wants outputs. Businesses want results, not the use of a design technology. Do you believe that ISD is a useful process? Why or why not? Are there certain situations when it is a more (or less) effective way to design training?

Which of the training professionals roles do you believe is the most difficult to learn? Which is easiest?

How might technology influence the importance of training professionals roles? Can technology reduce the importance of any of the roles? Can it result in additional roles?

Describe the training courses that you have taken. How have they helped you? Provide recommendations for improving the courses.

How does training differ between companies that are considered BEST Award winners and those that are not?

What are the implications of generational differences in the workforce? What strategies should companies consider from a training and development perspective to cope with generational differences and use them to benefit the company?

How has new technology improved training and development? What are some of the limitations of using smart phones or notebooks for training?

Explain how training relates to attracting new employees, employee retention, and motivation.

What is the relationship between talent management and employee engagement? What role can training and development practices play in keeping employee engagement high? Explain.

How can training, informal learning, and knowledge management benefit from the use of social collaboration tools like Twitter and Facebook? Identify the social collaboration tool and explain the potential benefits gained by using it.