Deductive and Inductive on-the-Job Training Strategies

The problem and the solution. Planned training on-the-job programs have historically used deductive training strategies as a means to deliver the training content. However, the changing nature of work in today’s organizations demands that employees be more effective problem solvers and independent learners than ever before. Therefore, alternative training strategies, such as an inductive approach, must be considered to respond to these changing job demands. Although inductive training strategies hold much promise for developing higher level cognitive skills, they are not without their limitations. This chapter compares deductive and inductive training strategies and presents factors to consider when selecting a strategy for planned on-the-job training.