An Assessment of the Impacts of Training on Employee and Organizational Performance, a Case Study of Nigerian Oil and Gas Sector

Abstract

Training program will be a success if it accomplishes four objectives of training: participants like the program, participants gain needed knowledge and skills, participants apply what they learned to their jobs, and participants improve in performance due to training and assist the company in achieving its mission and objectives. This is Kirk Patrick Evaluation model, which was applied in this study, the study evaluates training in some selected companies of the Nigerian oil and gas sector in achieving these four objectives.

Hundreds of millions of dollars are invested yearly in training and other learning events in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, especially in the selected companies for this study namely Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC); Shell Nigeria; Nigeria LNG limited and Addax petroleum. The senior management expectations of these companies are high that all training services should add expected value and improve business performance. Kirk Patrick model was employed, data and relevant information were gathered and analyzed at the four levels with the following results:

Level one - Participants’ Reactions Respondents were asked to evaluate training attended in three areas: contents, facilitation/delivery and administration, a five-point Likert scale was used, with 5 being the highest response possible and 0 being the lowest, for the 400 respondents a consistent score of 4 to 4.5 was received for these three areas, which is interpreted Very Good on the scale of responses. Participants were satisfied with the quality/content, delivery and administration of the programs.

Levels Two and Three – Learning gains and Application of learning: The responses to the various questions were combined to determine whether learning has taken place and what were learned were applied to participants’ jobs, both participants and their supervisors were asked using a five point scale an average of 4 was received, which is a very good score. Over 90% of both participants and supervisor claimed that they learned and are applying the new knowledge and skills acquired.

Level Four-Organizational impact: This was found to be positive too, over 90% of participants and supervisors agree that training has positive impact on the performance and achievement of organization goals and objectives.

From the hypotheses formulated and tested it was established that training has positive impacts on employees personal and professional effectiveness and achievement of organization goals and objectives in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

Keywords: Training & Development

JEL Classification: C12