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9609 · 2.1.6

Training and development — practice questions

Practice and worked examples for 9609 Training and development. Short previews only — attempt the full question in MarkScheme against the official scheme.

Worked example 1

Restaurant chain faces food hygiene fines. Compare on-the-job vs off-the-job training to address this.

Show solution outline

On-the-job: Supervisor coaching, checklists, shadowing in kitchen — immediate, low cost, applies to all sites quickly.

Off-the-job: Certified food hygiene course for managers — formal qualification, external credibility, higher cost per head.

Best mix: Mandatory off-the-job certificate for shift leaders + ongoing on-the-job refresher drills for all staff. Link to 9.2 quality standards and legal compliance (6.1.1).

Worked example 2

A manufacturing firm produces 100,000 components per month. 5% of these are rejected due to quality issues, costing the firm $10 per rejected unit. They are considering an off-the-job training program for 20 production staff costing $800 per employee. It is expected to reduce the rejection rate to 2%. Calculate the net benefit of the training program in the first month and advise the firm.

Show solution outline

Step 1: Calculate the current monthly cost of defects.

  • Number of rejected units = 100,000 units * 5% = 5,000 units
  • Current monthly cost = 5,000 units * $10/unit = $50,000

Step 2: Calculate the total cost of the training program.

  • Total training cost = 20 employees * $800/employee = $16,000

Step 3: Calculate the new monthly cost of defects after training.

  • New number of rejected units = 100,000 units * 2% = 2,000 units
  • New monthly cost = 2,000 units * $10/unit = $20,000

Step 4: Calculate the monthly financial benefit (cost saving).

  • Monthly saving = Current cost - New cost
  • Monthly saving = 50,000−50,000 - 20,000 = 30,00030,000

Step 5: Calculate the net benefit in the first month.

  • Net benefit = Monthly saving - Total training cost
  • Net benefit = 30,000−30,000 - 16,000 = 14,00014,000

Advice: The training program is projected to yield a net benefit of $14,000 in its first month of operation. This represents a significant and immediate return on investment. The firm should proceed with the training as it not only improves quality but also directly enhances profitability.

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