Section Fourobsolescence. Aside from training’s value in enhancing
productivity and helping companies to avoid these problems, it
also is a means for avoiding shortages of qualified workers.
At the lowest-level jobs in the skill hierarchy, there is a
need for training in basic skills. Even the most basic skills of
reading and writing cannot be taken for granted in today’s
environment. Because of these skill inadequacies, when there
are labor shortages, companies may become more involved in
remedial teaching. Further, with high levels of immigration,
there will be a need to train immigrant workers in the United
States cultural norms, language, values, and job expectations.
Managers also may need training, such as in the immigrants’
language and culture. Further, the disadvantaged and
traditionally unemployed may need training in basic skills such
as work norms.^47
In addition to training at the lower end of the skill
hierarchy, a common need for workers in today’s information
age is that they need more training in thinking skills or
analytical skills. Workers need to have skills in drawing
inferences, synthesizing, categorizing, and generalizing from
data.^48 Professor Edward de Bono of Cambridge University has
developed programs for teaching thinking skills and has trained
thousands of individuals through these programs, including
executives from major corporations. An interesting outcome of