Formal Process of Managerial Learning: Empirical Evidence from Apparel Manufacturing Industry

Abstract

This paper reports results of an empirical investigation into the formal processes that apparel manufacturing companies use to develop their managers. The findings of the study shed light on the formal development processes that are commonly used in the industry and on differences across companies of different ownership. The investigations revealed that not all human resource managers actively engage in the provision of different formal management development processes. Instead, some development processes are solely provided by the heads of the departments within their departments without having any specific organisation-led development initiative. The implications of the findings are discussed.

Key words: Apparel Industry, Management Development, Ownership