The evaluation of training and development of employees: The case of a national oil and gas industry

Abstract

.................................................................................................................................................. i Dedication ............................................................................................................................................. iii Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................. iv Declarations ........................................................................................................................................... v List of Tables ...................................................................................................................................... xvii List of Figures ...................................................................................................................................... xxi Chapter One: Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background and motivation of the research ................................................................................... 2 1.1.1 The Kirkpatrick four levels model ............................................................................................ 3 1.2 Research Problem ............................................................................................................................ 6 1.2.1 Factors influencing training effectiveness ................................................................................ 6 1.2.2 Evaluating training effectiveness .............................................................................................. 6 1.2.3 Evaluation at the reaction level ................................................................................................ 7 1.2.4 Transfer of learning ................................................................................................................... 7 1.3.1 Insufficient and incomplete training evaluation ........................................................................ 7 1.3.3 Obstacles to training evaluation ................................................................................................ 8 1.4 Rationale of the study for Oman ...................................................................................................... 9 1.4.1 Training evaluation in Arab countries ...................................................................................... 9 1.5 Omani context ................................................................................................................................ 10 1.5.1 Rationale of choosing oil and gas ........................................................................................... 11 1.5.2 The importance of the oil and gas industry in GCC region ................................................... 14 1.5.3 Rationale for choosing national oil and gas companies .......................................................... 14 1.6 Aims and objectives ...................................................................................................................... 16 1.6.1 Research Objectives ................................................................................................................ 16 1.6. 2 Research questions ................................................................................................................. 16 1.7 Research Methodology .................................................................................................................. 17 1.8 Contributions.................................................................................................................................. 18 1.9 Thesis structure .............................................................................................................................. 20