Do Engineers and Technicians Need a Special Kind of Training?

Problem 

      “Strange, this program was a sure thing with the marketing people. The topic is relevant for every single staff member in the company. Why don’t I get the same positive feedback from the participating engineers?” As a human resources developer or trainer, you would certainly know this situation – or am I the only one? The explanation for this phenomenon is multi-layered.

1. ] In the past 20 years, the wish for self-realization has gained a high significance within our culture. This has an influence on our choice of studies and career, as it is clear that a choice of studies and career cannot be successful in the long run without corresponding interest. Scientific studies were able to prove that certain interests resp. tuitional contents belong to certain professions. Thus, engineers are ………practical and technically interested and show a questing attitude (Holland). 

1. Learning Style 

These interests also result in a learning style that is significantly unlike that from people with a pronounced interest in the social field. Learning styles can be differentiated according to acquisition, i.e. gathering of information through concrete experience or abstract conceptualization and processing of information through active experimenting or reflective observation (Kolb).

Technicians explicitly prefer theoretical acquisition of information. On processing information, though, the preferences of technicians and engineers are not clearly distinguishable.  

Solution: 

Training programs have to be didactically edited in an “engineer-like” way. Technicians and engineers prefer to become acquainted with a learning matter first on a model and to cement it all thereafter by application or reflection. Contents which have to be theoretically conveyed must by all means be summarized into structures and models and thereby presented in a neat way. This poses a special challenge especially in the areas of leader- and social competences. Yet, in order to achieve high effectivity of training programs for the target group of technicians and engineers, it is well worth the effort.

If you have any questions regarding the topic please contact Dr. Birgit Weyer (+49 8382 943 360) or birgit.weyer@weyerundhansen.de