Based on the case study, answer the following questions. Mrs. Mary was recently appointed as the Training Unit Manager at a supermarket. The unit consists of five personnel - Training Manager, Training Coordinator, Trainer/Instructor, Secretary and Admin Clerk. She finds that the supermarket runs various training programs for its employees based on training needs analysis. Examples of trainings are; Product Knowledge Training and Customer Service Training for sales personnel, Store Management Training, Inventory Planning and Stock Control Training for supermarket manager and supervisors, as well as Effective Communication Training and Stress Management Training for all employees. Most of these training programs are conducted at hotels rather than at the workplace and involve external trainers. Nevertheless, the supermarket is now facing financial problems due to competitive effects on a newly opened nearby supermarket that lead to decline in sales.

Therefore, the top management has suggested to Mrs. Mary to save on the cost of training. Among the suggestions raised are:

(i) Training Unit only conducts training programs at the workplace rather than at the hotel.

(ii) Training Unit utilizes internal trainers for all types of training programs conducted.

(iii) Training Unit only conducts training according to request from the Head of Department

(iv) Training Unit optimizes the use of internet technology in conducting training programs.

Mrs. Mary informed all the suggestions to the Training Unit, but suggestions (i), (ii) and (iii) were rejected. Another suggestion received from her Training Coordinator, Mr. Chong is that the top management makes an investment in upgrading the Training Unit to become a profit center for the organization.

Mrs. Mary then submitted Mr. Chong's suggestion to the top management, but the top management was not confident of getting a return on the investment. 2 Your answers must be based on the above scenario (i.e. supermarket).

(a) With examples, provide three (3) reasons to top management explaining why not all training programs are appropriate to be conducted at the supermarket.

(b) With examples, provide three (3) reasons to top management explaining why not all training programs can be conducted by the Training Units internal trainer/instructor.

(c) With examples, provide three (3) reasons to top management explaining how the training need analysis will save the cost of training management rather than training programs conducted based on the request of the Head of Department only.

(d) With examples, provide three (3) methods of optimizing the use of internet technology in conducting training programs.

(e) In addition to Mr. Chong's proposal, provide three (3) other steps that the Training Unit can take to reduce the cost of training management.

(f) Discuss to what extent you agree or disagree with Mr. Chong's proposal.