The role of career development in ensuring effective quality management of training

Orientation: It is widely acknowledged that career development needs to be viewed as a critical element by organisations to capacitate employees and contribute to organisational success. The role of career development in capacitating leaders to ensure effective quality management (QM) of training is not well known.Research purpose: This research aimed to investigate officers in corps training units’ perceptions regarding the role of career development in managing the quality of training in the South African (SA) Army.Motivation for the study: Limited research exists concerning the career development of leaders responsible for the QM of training internationally and nationally. This study intended to fill the gap.Research design and method: Qualitative focus group interviews were conducted using a sample comprising 49 officers at six SA Army corps training units.Main findings: The appointment of unqualified and incompetent leaders in critical positions, lack of continuity in the staffing of personnel, the appointment of incompetent personnel in training positions and the lack of mentors and opportunities for mentoring of officers adversely affected the QM of training in the SA Army.Practical/managerial implications: There is a need for leaders in the SA Army to ensure that career development strategies are adequately planned and managed in the training context. This will ensure that leaders with adequate potential are appointed and developed to guarantee high-quality training.Contribution/value-add: This research provided an empirical description of the role that career development plays in the organisational system to ensure adequate QM of training.