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Abstract
Seventy-five of the largest 225 banking institutions were randomly selected to participate in a survey of formal management training programs. A survey instrument was designed to collect data concerning characteristics of the organization, the training program structure, the participants and the specific management competencies taught or experiences provided through orientations. The responses to seventy questions were tabulated into frequency distributions, and organization characteristics were cross-tabulated, with the remaining survey items to produce a 4 x 66 correlational matrix.
Most banks were found to have management training programs emphasizing traditional interest income generating functions and were directed at college graduates, 22-25 years of age. Training was conducted on-site in department orientations rather than formal classroom settings, and staff and human relations aspects were secondary considerations. Few relationships existed between organization and training characteristics indicating a need to integrate corporate goals into the training effort. Evaluation techniques were utilized but were found to be inadequate. Asset size was the organizational characteristic which most consistently related to program design.
A model for training was developed from the findings of the study as well as the related literature. The model emphasized a balance in technique and greater flexibility in program design. Recommendations for professional trainers were suggested and implications for additional research were discussed.
