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Problems in Management Training

12th January 1968
Page 72
Page 72, 12th January 1968 — Problems in Management Training
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

ROAD TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT training at all levels is a continuous process. It is not just a question of taking one intensive course and in the years to come being brought up to date from time to time--as is the case with driver training and many clerical operations. Techniques of management, the whole spectrum of road transport operating, altered by Governmental action and technical developments, changes rapidly. It is of the utmost importance for all supervisors and managers in road transport to be kept abreast of new thinking and ideas—with courses to add new information and sweep away old concepts rather than those of a refresher variety.

This calls for a different pattern of training in which course attendance should be normal procedure for all road transport managers and those in the higher supervisory grades. Basically, two types of training are needed—preparation for management posts and continued training when higher management positions have been attained.

The first requires bigger thinking than is at present envisaged and I have always been keen on the concept of a road transport college where manager trainees could have a certain period in residence—along the lines of the British Transport Staff College at Woking, on which I wrote some months ago. Weekend courses in residence, for example, for those in the managerial seat to discuss current developments would also be a great asset at such a college.

This idea has been mooted for the last two years at least. The British Transport Staff College does indeed include those in middle management in the larger bus companies and London Transport. a few have come from British Road Services and there is an occasional own-account operator taking the training courses which normally extend over a I3-week period. But this is only a tiny fraction of the potential; there is a clear need for a staff college devoted to road passenger and goods interests.

How can such a college be financed? In theory, the RTITB —having sounded all interested parties—ought to be the body to set up such a staff college. There have, however, been some legal difficulties for Industrial Training Boards in regard to taking over premises for residential courses and supervising the staffing of these colleges, These may have been overcome by the announcement at the end of last month by the Ministry of Labour that it is prepared to grant 60 per cent of capital costs to Industrial Training Boards "to provide new premises and equipment for training" in order to encourage off-the-job training. On the surface this looks more encouraging and the RTITB ought to explore the possibility of looking after a staff college with all speed. There is a big job to do.

Meanwhile, two organizations are continuing to make important contributions to road transport management training. The North Western Polytechnic in London's Camden Town has a further five-day course from January 22-26 on road transport management. Intended for managers and supervisors—in both bus and road haulage—the course takes a wide sweep of subjects, but special emphasis is given to the seminar character and members are encouraged to come forward and discuss their own individual problems. The final section, the "establishment of sound operating practices," sounds really intriguing.

The national firm of transport consultants, Davies and Robson, with Croydon headquarters, follows up its successful one-day seminars for road goods managers with a course entitled "Forward Planning in Commerce and Labour Relations" at the Charing Cross Hotel on January 24. Practical experts will take a critical look at both aspects and there is additionally an appraisal of the value of "business games" as applied to road transport.

The last feature is a prelude to a full-day course which will be concerned exclusively with a road transport business game and "played" in London on March 20.


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