Assume, Train, or Test?

bevhunt

Recently, I have had checkers at the supermarket startle me by asking me to identify fruits and vegetables for them to ring up. I know they have codes on them, but I am dismayed that young employees can't identify an avocado or ask what kind of lettuce is a head of green cabbage.

This got me thinking of this situation as a metaphor.  Should the supermarket just assume that employees can identify produce, which seems like it would be a skill set needed to be a checker.  Or should they just train all new checkers in vegetable identification, even though a percentage doesn't need this training.  Or should they test new hires to see which ones would need the training? 

This could be applied to a lot of workplace situations.  Anyone have any ideas?

regdunlop

never assume.  train and test would be the way to go.  i have a friend that started in the MIS department right out of college. his education wasn't in computers.  on his first day of work the trainer showed him how to turn the computer on and off.

californian

Reminds me of an article I read a while back on the East coast grocery store -- Wegmans. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005/01/24/8234048/index.htm 

They have the whole package for employee training in the grocery industry. Their global concept fo remployee investment in the business is stellar -- we could all learn a little from Wegmans. Now, if we could just get them to come to the West coast!!!