PUB TYPE Reports Research/Technical (143)

An international team of researchers studied the following aspects of training in Germany's retail sector: structure and characteristics, institutional and social context, employment and labor, changing conditions and their implications for skill requirements, and training and recruitment. Data were collected from an analysis of social and labor/employment statistics, literature review, and case studies of seven retail stores of six companies. Two were located in what was formerly East Germany. All companies had independent internal training departments or company training institutes responsible for planning training at the company level. In all cases, training was planned in consultation with store and district managers. Training strategies were closely linked to company philosophies. In-house manageme.tt involvement in training design/delivery varied widely. All companies offered some training t