Write a $500$ word essay in which you summarise the arguments made by Peters related to the opportunities that the Fourth Industrial Revolution brings to public service delivery and the challenges for training and development in harnessing opportunitiesWeek $9$ Activity $1$

Case study: When training harms

George Sibanda is the director in charge of Human Resource Planning in the Department of

Human Settlements. The Department has liberal policies regarding employee training and

development. Three of Sibanda's employees submitted requests to attend a training

programme that will require them to travel from Pretoria to Cape Town and be away from the

job for two consecutive weeks.

Jane is one of Sibanda's best workers and one whom he has in line for future promotion.

She has never attended any training programmes conducted away from the Department.

Because of the heavy workload in Sibanda's Department and his dependence on Jane, he

feels that he cannot spare her for the two$-$week training programme. Sibanda talks to Jane

and explains why her request cannot be approved. He mentioned how important she is to

the Department and how he has plans for her future promotion.

Kate is average in her work performance and is not currently in line for future promotion. She

has attended one three$-$day seminar on data processing, approximately one year ago. After

considerable discussion with Kate, Sibanda approves her request for the two$-$week training

programme.

Nathan is a big talker and somewhat of a troublemaker. He is also not a competent worker.

Nathan constantly requests approval to attend various training programmes. He has

attended two one$-$week seminars in the past nine months. Since Nathan can do very little to

ease the burden of the heavy workload in the Department, Sibanda approves his request for

the two$-$week training programme.

Following Sibanda's decisions regarding Jane, Kate and Nathan, he notices that there is

considerable discontent among other employees in his Department. Then Jane requests a

lateral transfer to another department.

Discussion questions :

What is the purpose of training and development?

What can Sibanda do about Jane's request for a lateral transfer?

What do you think is causing the other employees' discontent?

What can Sibanda do about their discontent? $-$ What possible solutions could you

provide to this situation?

What can be learned from an analysis of Sibanda's training practices?