Training and development in Libyan banks : an evaluation of current practices and the development of a systematic approach to training effectiveness

• Main Author: Abdulsadig, Awad Mohamed
• Other Authors: Branine, Mohamed
• Published: Abertay University 2010
• Subjects: 332.1
• Online Access: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.650815

The main purpose of this research is to evaluate the current practices of training and development programmes in the Libyan banks to explore the problems and the challenges they face, and to make suggestions that may improve the effectiveness of their training and development programmes. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of research are applied in the collection and analysis of data from nine Libyan banks. Qualitative data were gathered through 18 interviews with nine top managers and nine training and development managers while quantitative data were gathered through the use of questionnaires from 211 employees. The findings have shown that, firstly, training and development programmes were not effective, in general, and mostly did not achieve their objectives. Poor planning and the difficulty in determining training needs had been the most important factors that hindered training and development activities. There was a lack of on-the-job training programmes, a poor quality of external training centres and a lack of well-qualified internal and external trainers. The most frequently used training method was the lecture. Adding to the very few studies carried out in less developed countries, this study is one of the first attempts to investigate the practice of training and development in the Libyan banking sector. It is considered as a step towards the introduction of examples of best practice relating to training and development in the Libyan banking sector. It also provides assessments for the effectiveness of the current practices relating to the implementation and evaluation process of training and development and reflects all the related problems and challenges. This study may help managers of training and development programmes in Libya and other developing countries to better understand how to carry out a training needs analysis, implement and evaluate the training and development programmes.