Siemens Management Learning: A Highly Integrated Model to Align Learning Processes with Business Needs

Abstract

THE FOLLOWING trends have been recognised in the field of management training for some 15 years, irrespective of the type of business: The time companies spend on learning in formal processes is being reduced per training unit (seminar, workshop), even though the perceived need for learning is rising. Traditional learning processes are being increasingly separated from work processes. This is evident if one considers the choice of locations where training is held (company in-house training centres, business schools, seminar locations). The learner consequently has the feeling that the greater the distance from the actual workplace, the less the relevance of what is being learned. The ‘seminar’ method of training (classroom instructions as a combination of lectures and exercises over a couple of days) is becoming more popular, which may explain why efforts are being made to standardise and commercialise the subjects and processes to be learned. At the same time, there is growing criticism of the efficiency and the effectiveness of this learning method for practical work.¹