Mapping the Complexity of Developing Industrial Training: A Skills Ecosystem Case Study

Industrial training and workplace upskilling are critical in addressing global competition and rapid technological changes, as training provided by experts at the right time can enhance the practices of an organisation. Thus, understanding the organisational role of training, and addressing training design and the pedagogies employed by training personnel is of major interest. Yet, real-world contexts can be much more complex than simple models allow, as training is dependent on trainers, trainees, facilities and resources, organisational culture, and various other factors. This chapter sets out to map the extent of the complexities of industrial training and discusses how to improve training practices. The setting for this work is the global mining industry company Sandvik, specifically their training site in Johannesburg, South Africa. This case study highlights challenges and opportunities for enhancing specialised training systems. Using semi-structured interviews of training staff supported by observational data, we map out the challenges and potentials for developing the company’s industrial training systems. In this mapping, which is guided by systems research, we identify dependencies, dynamics, and leverage points of the training system, such as those relating to materials, culture, pedagogy, and organisational aspects. Analysing this training system, we illustrate how to approach the development of industrial training. Using systems research concepts, we highlight the complexity of real-world challenges in training development that emerges in our data.