Survey: Training Spending Remains Steady Talent Management Priority

While reduced talent management investment is the new normal, there’s a desire for increased leadership training.

Waltham, Mass. — March 6

An online survey measuring the state of global talent management conducted by Global Novations found that while reduced talent management investment is the new normal, there’s a desire for increased leadership training, an awareness of the importance of managing multiple generations in the workforce, and a preference for self-paced online and blended learning over both traditional instructor-led and newer immersive/3D learning methods.

More than 200 people completed the survey. Key points include:

  • Developing the next generation of leaders was the top talent management priority for 2012, over 2011’s top priority of addressing skill gaps for critical roles.
  • The majority of respondents identified leadership development as the key development focus for 2012, followed by critical skills for managers, which includes coaching and performance management.
  • Managing multiple generations in the workforce emerged as the largest global talent management challenge, followed by the emergence/advancement of women.
  • More respondents indicated their diversity and inclusion strategies were developed centrally from headquarters (55 percent in 2012 vs. 46 percent in 2011).
  • For formal learning programs, respondents plan to use virtual instructor-led training, online self-paced and blended more this year than in 2011. Respondents also indicated plans to use in-person ILT, online self-paced, assessments and evaluation, and blended approaches at roughly the same levels as 2011.
  • Most respondents are not currently using 3D interactive training or indicated uncertainty around using it in 2012.
  • Organizations surveyed are spending at 2011 levels or more on social and Web 2.0-based informal learning programs like social networking, blogs, wikis and forums.

Source: Global Novations