Abstract:
Transfer of training, the concern of this thesis, is
investigated in the context of a joint-venture in
management development carried out by the Cranfield
School of Management and Cable and Wireless Limited.
Previous work in the. field of transfer - theoretical,
experimental and empirical - is reviewed and relevant
aspects incorporated into the study. The development
of the joint-venture itself is explored in three
contexts: business, educational and career. ·
The field study was conducted with the dual objectives
of hypothesis testing and hypothesis generation. 181 ~
C & W managers participated in the general management~:
programmes specially-prepared for them at Cranfield.
Subsequently a questionnaire was sent to each of them
at their place of work to elicit their perceptions of
the programmes the influence of the organisational
climate on their transfer efforts; and their transfer
performance as it related to specific tasks and to their
own end-of-programme resolutions.
Findings suggest that, although the nature of-the
learning experience and the organisational climate are
undoubtedly important determinants of the. successful
transfer of training~ the influence of both are
modified substantially by· the type of manager. Perceptions
are found to vary consistently with type of manager;
"type" being defined by programme attended (a surrogate
for "level"); Company categorisation of managers; work
preferences, as identified by the Myers Briggs Type
Indicator; age; professional background; and length of
service with the Company.
A model for the transfer of training is proposed, together
with a number of practical recommendations for both parties
to the joint-venture aimed at enhancing future management
development activities.
Availability of this thesis is at the discretion of the
Steering Committee of the joint-venture.