Supporting Workplace Learning for High Performance Working

Citation

(2003), "Supporting Workplace Learning for High Performance Working", Education + Training, Vol. 45 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2003.00445dae.002

Supporting Workplace Learning for High Performance Working

Supporting Workplace Learning for High Performance Working

D.N. Ashton and J. SungInternational Labour Office2002£12.95ISBN: 9221128016

A strategic aim of the International Labour Office is to create greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent work. Supporting Workplace Learning for High Performance Working contributes to this end. The book considers workplace learning and training from the perspective of workers and employers and demonstrates that companies benefit from increased productivity and employees gain from improvements to the quality of their working lives. The book also examines the role government can play in fostering high-performance work practices and encouraging companies to make better use of the skills of their employees.

The authors demonstrate that employees in high-performance work practices (HPWPs) often benefit from more stable employment and that equity issues are dealt with more openly. Workers are usually provided with greater opportunities to have their skills recognized and certified under national qualification frameworks. The use of HPWPs also provides the opportunity for workers to develop their capabilities through job rotation, multiskilling and learning in teams. Through these approaches, the learning is not a one-off event, but a continuous process throughout the employee's working life. HPWPs involve a major commitment from managers and workers. Mutual trust is an essential part of reorganization of the workplace. The reward of involvement in decision making is an essential part of HPWPs.

The book is well written and neatly laid out. It deserves a wide readership among educationists and business people.