Benefits of formal training courses within a professional services firm

Examines the effects of two aspects of formal training courses (participation, value) on both work setting characteristics and work outcomes. Data were collected from a large sample of managerial and professional women and men (n = 1,208) using questionnaires completed anonymously. All were employees of a single large professional services firm. About 90 per cent had participated in internal courses and about 40 per cent had participated in external courses in the last two years. Women and men participated at almost identical rates. The perceived value of formal training courses more than having participated in them was related to work setting characteristics and work outcomes, making allowances for personal demographic characteristics.