Operational excellence and culture transformation are lofty goals. But training can play a big part in an organization attaining them, as Verizon can attest: Verizon Lean Six Sigma (VLSS) helped earn the telecom the No. 1 spot on the Training Top 125 for the second year in a row. Despite some belt-tightening, Top 125ers still dedicated a mean of 4.58 percent of their payroll to the training budget. Some 25 newcomers earned a spot on the list this year, the 13th in a row Training has ranked the top companies of employer-sponsored workforce training and development.
Each Top 125 company was measured on quantitative (70 percent of total score) and qualitative (30 percent of total score) data. Factors influencing the rankings include:
- Training tied to business objectives
- Demonstrable results
- Number of trainers
- Employee turnover and retention
- Leadership development
- Tuition assistance
- Training technology and infrastructure
- Certification
- Training budget and percentage of payroll…and much, much more.
An outside research and statistical data company, under the guidance of Training magazine, scored companies on this data supplied by applicants. Then, our editors and the Training
Top 10 Hall of Famers qualitatively reviewed the applications.
Best Practices and Outstanding Training Initiatives also are recognized in this issue (beginning on p. 100). Learn about BB&T Corporation’s Leadership Development Program; United States Navy’s Information Technology of the Future; Best Buy’s Path to Excellence; and more. Plus, we recognize the achievements and learning legacy of Ernst & Young’s Mike Hamilton, the first Training Top 10 Hall of Fame representative set to retire later this year. Congratulations to this year’s Training Top 125!
