Companies exist because they are the most efficient way of an entrepreneur gaining the services of others. And yet many gain the services of those working in their own firms, as sole-traders (or self-employed) and via agencies. This blog aims to elaborate on the simple case of workers employed by a firm to provide a complete understanding of the possible relationships between entrepreneurs and their companies and workers.

How can we be sure that a given training intervention will indeed change the company system and give return on investment? Training has to be transferred from the learning environment of trainer and trainee to the work environment of manager and worker. The efficiency of transfer of training depends on a huge number of variables, each associated with the characteristics of the manager, trainee, trainer and the work environment.

For some managers stealing in the workplace is black and white. This article suggests it isn't. It depends which viewpoint you take - employee or employer. Is using a company pen for personal use theft of company assets or just part of the give-and-take of employment? It all depends on your viewpoint and where you draw the line.

Technology provides a force for change in all businesses. Technologists innovate and develop new technological knowledge and technological artefacts. That technological knowledge helps us do things differently and to innovate within our businesses. The technological artefacts help us do things, but they also do things for us and replace us in things we did previously.

People are the most important asset of any organisation. Research has shown that effective management of employees can lead to increased bottom line performance and a growth in shareholder value. All small companies and many medium sized organisations tend to work without HR professionals but they still engage, train, promote, pay and generally manage their staff. Research shows however that there is more to be had for such organisations.

Training is an intervention in the employee’s working life, hopefully to the benefit of both employer and employee. This paper asks what activities are needed to ensure that the training is a success and that learning results. This learning, moderated by the trainee’s motivation on the job, will then generate the desired behaviour change.This paper identifies three phases in training: pre-training, training and post-training, and explains why all three are equally important.