Question

Describe the pros and cons of five Management Development methods. Which one do you feel is the most effective? Refer to Chapter 8 pages 231-271 Question on page 264.

Human Resource Management 15th Edition, Gary Dessler

Answer 1

Management development techniques aim at overall development of the employee in the organization. Development of employees is important for their personal growth as well as company’s overall growth. The various types of management development techniques are:

• Job rotation: The employee gets rotated on various available jobs in the company, based on his profile.
  • Pros: Develops the overall skill set of the employee
  • Cons: Quite costly technique
• Succession planning: This technique helps in preparing the employees to take future roles, top the ladder
  • Pros: Effective succession planning program leads to increased employee morale
  • Cons: If succession planning is poorly thought and executed, the overall business suffers
• Coaching: Experienced seniors try to guide the juniors about having an effective career in the company
  • Pros: This technique leads to holistic development of the employee as the guidance is totally focused on him
  • Cons: This technique offers limited guidance, only from the senior and does not considers others in the company
• Internal training program: Many companies conduct in-house training based on the training needs identified of the employees.
  • Pros: This technique offers cost effectiveness and focused approach
  • Cons: This process can be costly to maintain in the company
• Vendor provided training: They are the professionals whom the company can hire for developing the employees
  • Pros: The training will have a professional approach
  • Cons: The training can miss the objective and specific needs of the company