Determining Developmental Planning

The differences between employee development, employee training, and career management can often be blurred because of the multiple activities associated with each process. All of these processes are similar in that they help employees discover their strengths, identify and improve their weaknesses, and build skills to do their roles efficiently and work well with others. In addition, these processes help companies keep talented employees, compete in a changing economy, and meet the challenges associated with technological advances and global markets. In this exercise, please read the mini-case and answer the questions that follow. Jacob has been attending courses that relate to his current job, but he is really looking to obtain another position in the company. He believes he has the potential to become a leader in the organization. When he started at Technology Systems Inc. five years ago, he was a call center representative. He became the supervisor of other call center employees after only six months. A year and a half later, he was promoted to systems administrator. Since then, he has expected his employer to offer him opportunities to advance further but that has not happened. Jacob decided to take things in his own hands and take advantage of the partnership program the company had with the local university. Fortunately, Technology Systems Inc. would partially repay him for the costs of attending the university.

1) The courses Jacob is taking that relate to his current job can be characterized as which of the following?

A) Training

B) Career Management

C) Development

2) By taking courses at the local university, Jacob felt that he was taking steps toward success in his work. This refers to

A) Goal setting

B) Self-directed initiative

C) Protean career management

D) Reality check

3) What is the term for the feeling of pride and accomplishment that comes from achieving life goals that are not limited to achievements at work?

A) Psychological Contract

B) Psychological Success

C) Personal Well-being

D) Psychosocial Support

4) The partnership program that the organization has with the local university is an example of which of the following?

A) Formal Education

B) Employment Education

C) Executive Education

5) What has been found to increase employee retention rates and readiness for promotion, and improve job performance?

A) Psychological Success    

B) Protean Careers

C) Tuition Reimbursement

D) Sabbatical