Influence of Individual Characteristics, Organizational Support System and Learning Organizational Practices in Post-program Transfer of Training: A Study on Management Development Programs of Bangladesh Civil Service

Abstract

Management development programs of Bangladesh Civil Service are traditionally seen as a piecemeal approach; no linkage is found among program performance, transfer performance and career advancement of trained officials. Moreover, no effective mechanism is found in public organization to assess or monitor the issue of post-program transfer of training. The study employed an in-depth investigation into factors affecting post-program transfer of training. It made a detailed investigation into ultimate effectiveness of management development programs by examining contribution of three sets of influencing factors under individual characteristics, work environment (social and logistic support), and learning organizational practices on post-program transfer of training. The study was conducted on two management development courses like Advanced Course on Administration and Development (ACAD) and Senior Staff Course (SSC) by administering survey on purposively selected 212 graduated participants of both the courses. The findings of the study suggest that the predictors like post-program motivation and self-efficacy to transfer, peer support, learning organizational practices like collaboration and team learning and strategic link of transfer performance with career advancement have direct and positive influence on post-program transfer of training. The findings of the study would guide the policy planner to formulate prudent HRD policy and strategy linking training performance (performance of learning acquisition as well as post program transfer) and career advancement (placement and promotion).