Examining Training in Large Municipalities: Linking Individual and Organizational Training Needs

Abstract

A well-designed training system contributes to a public organization's performance by ensuring that employees have the knowledge and skills they need to meet the demands of their current and future jobs. Training may also help governments attract and retain workers in an increasingly competitive job market. Thus, it is important to understand the nature of training in public organizations. A comprehensive study of training in local government is almost nonexistent in literature. The purpose of this article is twofold. First, using data from the Government Performance Project, it describes the training infrastructure in 33 of the largest cities by revenue. Second, it develops a framework -the Strategic Systems Training Model -that integrates the needs of individual employees and organizations, and can be used by governments to plan and analyze their training effectiveness.

Human Resource Management in American Counties, 2002

“…This section is particularly important because of the paucity of comprehensive studies of training in local governments and the Winter Commission's call to prioritize training and development. 20 All counties in the GPP study provide training to at least some of their employees. Many counties note in their responses that they lack adequate financial resources, space, and training staff to provide comprehensive training to all employees, however.…”

“…While considerable attention has focused on activities at the federal and state levels, relatively little research has focused on human resource management reforms and trends in counties. 2 County governments are particularly important because of the increased devolution of responsibilities from federal and state authorities and their changing role in the intergovernmental systems. 3 Berman and Salant suggest that "of all the units of government in the United States, few have experienced as much change as county governments."…”