The Theory and Practice of Training (Fourth Edition).
Roger Buckley and Jim Caple.
Kogan Page, 2000.
Paperback, 281 pages,
£22.50.
ISBN 0 7494 3199 7.

In 1995 I reviewed the Third Edition of this title and said in final summary ‘a competently managed book that will prove to be a very valuable resource for trainers and also training managers and others with an interest in and responsibility for training and development.’ I see no reason with this new edition to change this review summary. The authors balance quite successfully a mixture of theory and practice, albeit more of a concentration on the theory aspects.

Also in my 1995 review I commented on their new inclusion of material on NVQs, regretting that in the section on these they had included only minimal reference to training and Development NVQs – surprising for a book on training. The principal emphasis was on the controversy over ‘competences’. In the new edition, the authors appear to have resolved their disquietude over NVQs and completely ignore them, apart from repeating the controversy over the competences basis.

New material in this edition includes discussion on lifelong learning, on-line learning and other up to date thoughts on learning and training. The 11 chapters include Training and the Organizational Environment; A Systematic Approach to Training; The Reactive Route into Training; The Proactive Route into Training; Analyses for Training (TNA and Job an Skills Analysis); Training Objectives; Learning Principles and Conditions; The Training Programme – Selection, Design and Delivery; Assessing the Effectiveness of Training; Auditing Training; and the Role of the Trainer.

The book is recommended to experienced trainers and training managers who wish to link training and learning theory with general descriptions of practice, and it stands as a definitive work in this field.

Leslie Rae
July 2000

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