2.1. Description of Training Services

A single training provider in China usually has a wide training portfolio. They offer diversified training topics and cover various training areas. It should be noted that there are also some highly specified training companies whose training offerings are very much specialized and cover only a single training area.

Leadership and Strategic Management training is offered by a majority (60%) of the training providers who participated in the research. Around half of the research participants offer Interpersonal Skill Training, Middle Managerial and Sales Training. Please refer to Figure 22 below for detailed information.

Targeted trainees

The largest customer base of training providers surveyed in our report comes from Multinational Corporations (MNC’s) in China. The majority of training providers (69%) serve MNC’s and State Owned Enterprises (SOE’s) (54%). Private Local Companies and Smaller Foreign Invested Enterprises are also big training buyers. Government Agencies or affiliates are customers of one fifth of our surveyed training providers.

Training providers target Middle Managers as their major trainees (81%), while Senior Managers are their second favorite target group (76%), followed by Executives and First-Line Supervisors. Future Leaders/High Potentials were targeted only by 43% of the providers,
which is less than Sales Employees. Training for Administrative Employees is offered by 39% of the providers. For details please refer to Figure 24 below.

Duration of the training provided

The majority of training providers have 2-day training packages in their portfolio. One-fourth offer training programs that last 3 days or 4 days to one week. One-day training programs are offered by one fifth of the training providers. 14% of the respondents offer training that lasts from 1 to 6 months and the same number offer sessions covering more than half a year.

Certification offered after completion of training

The majority of training providers consider it important to offer certificates to individual training participants after their completion of the training programs. While 72% of training providers offer certificates, nearly thirty percent do not.

Language of training

As Figure 27 shows, 53% of all training is offered only in Chinese, while 51% is conducted bilingually. Training offered exclusively in English is 7%. A lot of training providers understand that English has become a working language in a significant number of companies in China, including many local companies. However, a lot of training providers are challenged by the availability of suitable trainers who are able to adequately and cost-effectively conduct training in English. And also with localization throughout the organization there is less of a need to function using English as a working language.

Methods of training delivery

Live Instructor-led Classroom delivery is the most commonly used training method representing 99% of all training programs. Conference/Workshop Sessions are second in popularity, while Action Learning is preferred by almost one third. Self-paced On-line
(networked) and/or Offline (CD-ROM) training is offered by 14% of the respondents, with the same number offering Virtual On-line or Remote Classroom options. For detailed results please refer to Figure 28 below.

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