Trends in Learning and Development: A Comparative Analysis of Service, Manufacturing and IT and ITES Sectors

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to identify emerging trends in learning and development in India and compare them based on the nature of business of the organizations such as service, manufacturing and IT & IT-enabled services. An exploratory study was conducted by administering a questionnaire on in India. 185 filled-in questionnaires collected from learning and development practitioners representing different types of the organizations were considered for the analysis. The alignment of training strategy and business goals was found at high extent in the organizations. In comparison, this alignment was higher in the IT&ITS sector than the manufacturing and service sectors. Training hours per employee were lesser in the manufacturing sector when compared to the service and the IT&ITES sectors. Overall, linking performance, closing gaps, frontline leadership were the topmost three trending topics. However, in comparison, ‘innovation’ emerged as the third most important topic that would influence the IT&ITES. Overall, building a culture that supports talent development initiatives, building leadership pipeline, and knowledge transfer were the topmost three challenges. However, leveraging technology emerged as the second biggest challenge for IT&ITES. Live instructor-led real classroom method of learning was the mostly used method in all three types of the organizations.