For a program to be successful, readiness for training should be assessed on two dimensions: employee characteristics and work environment. The employee characteristics that are relevant to training are the ability to learn the subject matter, attitudes toward training, and motivation to learn. Even if these are present, however, training will not be effective unless there is a positive work environment—an environment that encourages learning and eliminates obstacles for trainee success. An important characteristic of employee readiness is having basic learning skills, especially cognitive ability that includes using written and spoken language, solving math problems, and using logic to solve problems. If employees lack certain basic skills, they may have to attend some remedial classes before participating in job-related training. Seeing potential benefits from training programs may increase employee motivation to participate. Readiness for training also depends on work environment characteristics called situational constraints and social support. Constraints can include the limits of training's effectiveness from within the organization, such as lack of money or lack of time for training and practicing. Social support refers to the ways that the organization encourages training by expressing positive attitudes toward its training programs. The goal of this activity is to evaluate employee readiness for training.

Read each statement, then select the appropriate category

1. When new employees arrive on the sales floor after training at Hamilton Department Store, experienced employees have a tendency. Forget what you learned. This is how we really do it.
2. Time and again, Brooke's employees complained that the statistical quality control training was too difficult to be useful.
3. As much as she would like to. Elizabeth really doesn't think top management is going to allocate enough money to train everyone on the new software this year.
4. Although Jane really wanted to participate in the diversity training program, she knew it was impossible to get away from the office for three days in order to participate.
5. Ed was excited to hear about the new technical training program, but disappointed when he heard his boss say that he really didn't think the training was the time and effort

a. Social Support
b. Situational Constraints
c. Employee Readiness