Beyond the Classroom: Turning Workplace Training into Organizational Capability Through Social Support and Knowledge Networks

Abstract: Workplace training continues to absorb sizeable portions of organizational learning budgets, yet a stubborn gap persists between what employees learn and what they apply, share, and sustain on the job. This brief synthesizes recent empirical work on training transfer, knowledge sharing, and post-training knowledge networks to offer a practitioner-oriented framework for maximizing training impact. Drawing on a mixed-method study by Mehner, Rothenbusch, and Kauffeld (2025) along with foundational and contemporary research in industrial-organizational psychology, the discussion identifies motivation, volition, and social support—particularly from supervisors and peers—as pivotal levers. The brief argues that treating transfer as an individual concern underestimates training's potential; instead, organizations should design for parallel processes of application (transfer) and diffusion (sharing) that ride on intentional knowledge networks. Industry illustrations across construction, financial services, and healthcare demonstrate practical implementation. The closing sections outline forward-looking pillars for embedding learning capability as enduring organizational infrastructure.

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