On-the-Job Training—Managing the Training Function

Chapter . On-the-Job Training

On-the-job training (OJT) is one of the oldest forms of training; it was born when the first parent took his or her child aside and said, “Let me show you how to do that.” OJT at its most fundamental level can be defined as two people working closely together so one person can learn from the other. Whether the person teaching is called trainer, mentor, or guide, the function is the same—to teach the student so that he or she can correctly and safely perform a task. OJT's strengths are in its flexibility and portability, all the while remaining an informal and human form of training.

There is no company, factory, or home business in the world where one person—the so-called expert—has not helped a fellow employee learn ...