Making Transfer Climate Visible: Utilizing Social Network Analysis to Facilitate the Transfer of Training

In this article the authors introduce social network analysis (SNA) as a methodology for analyzing transfer climate prior to training. The literature has indicated that transfer climate is critical to a trainee’s ability to apply the new knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes they gain through training back to the workplace. SNA serves as a tool for analyzing a participant’s organizational network relationships prior to training to help the facilitator, trainee, and supervisor gain an accurate picture of the transfer climate. Based on this analysis, measures can be taken to develop strategies to deal with relational barriers prior to training that will facilitate the participant’s transfer of learning back to the work environment. The process of conducting SNA is described and illustrated using a case example. The benefits of using SNA to enhance transfer climate and the implications for further research and practice are discussed.

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