Training is a critical tool that business entities utilize to update the knowledge of their human resources who manage and perform business activities to enhance their skillsets to create competitive advantages to attract customers and ultimately realize profitability.
COVID-19 Pandemic
In March 2020, World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 as a pandemic and governments around the globe made various decisions concerning partial and complete curfews within respective countries in addition to closing international borders by certain countries.
Such closure had varying effects on several life aspects including education of all stages from university to kindergarten level, and training activities for employees of business entities were no exception.
Virtual Communication Tools
In response to such interruption in communications among people around the world as a direct consequence of the COVID-19 outbreak, which restricted face-to-face meetings, technology producers proceed with finding compensatory solutions for disruption in face-to-face interactions.
The internet-based virtual audio-video communication tools have been introduced enabling large audiences to communicate simultaneously such as Zoom and MS Team applications. Virtual communication means people interact with others without being in the same place.
World’s Dependence on Virtual Communication
Upon the emergence of virtual communication tools, all community members began to use the same to attain a balance between life and livelihood, i.e., protecting public health for life and earning a living, which underpins livelihood.
We find world governments meet virtually, the state government meets virtually, and business entities interact virtually.
The education process has been a significant challenge imposed by the closure measures and how it would continue using virtual communication. I
t has been continued but it was associated with several social challenges. Nevertheless, the learning process proceeded further.
Moreover, business entities started to overcome the closure using virtual communication tools to provide their staff members with training to enhance their professional and operating skills.
Feedback from trainees accessing training via virtual communication tools
Considering the emergency encountered by human resources with respect to access to training via virtual communication tools, Baker Tilly conducted a survey during July 2021 on the LinkedIn platform to identify feedback of the holders of different jobs about preferences of direct (face-to-face) training on one hand or training through virtual communication tools on other hand.
The survey result showed an equal preference of both modes of training where each party contributed justifications supporting their opinion.
Conclusion
Life is undoubtedly dynamic featuring continuing development. The emergence of virtual communication technology is a mere stage of life development we currently witness irrespective of its conducive causes.
However, the problem lies in the comfort zone of human behaviors where any new insights in life will have advocates and opponents. Consideration will be given to the preference that will prevail whereupon the opponents will follow the trend to maintain their interests. The determination will rise shortly, which we are just waiting for.