Training practices of Polish companies: an appraisal and agenda for improvement

Abstract Since the Polish economy shifted to the free market in 1990, Polish companies have had to pay more attention to internal and external training activities to help their organizations compete effectively and survive in a market‐driven system. The aim of this study was to take a comprehensive look at the training practices and activities after quite a large amount of money has been invested on training and development since 1990. This study involved a survey of 30 Polish companies. The study described standard training practices and how Polish companies adhere to accepted practices in determining training needs, developing training programs, and assessing training outcomes. The major findings were that many companies neglect to assess training needs and fail to evaluate the results of their training efforts. Recommendations and suggestions for improvement are provided.