An Assessment of the Impact of Training and Development on Employee Performance: Evidence from Afghanistan Food and Drug Authority (AFDA)
Abstract
This study assesses the impact of training and development on employee performance based on the evidence from the Afghanistan Food and Drug Authority (AFDA). Employee performance is widely recognized as a critical determinant of organizational effectiveness and long-term success. In an increasingly dynamic and competitive environment, organizations rely on competent and high-performing employees to achieve strategic objectives, improve service quality, and maintain operational efficiency. As a result, organizations continuously invest in human resource development practices, particularly training and development, to enhance employees' knowledge, skills, abilities, and professional competencies. Training primarily focuses on improving employees' current job-related knowledge and skills, whereas development emphasizes long-term professional growth, career advancement, and employee empowerment. Using a quantitative research approach, data were collected through a structured questionnaire from employees across various departments. Evaluation of structural path were employed to assess the direct and indirect effects of training and development on employee performance. The findings revealed that training (β= 0.231, t= 3.28, P<0.001) and development (β= 0.399, t= 5.197, P<0.001) each had a significant positive effect on employee performance. Further, the structural model demonstrated moderate explanatory power, with an R² value of 0.336, indicating that training and development explained 33.6% of the variance in employee Performance. Furthermore, the Q² value of 0.312 confirmed that the model possesses adequate predictive relevance and satisfactory predictive capability. These findings suggest that training and development enhance employee performance by improving employees' knowledge, skills, and competencies while fostering professional growth through delegation of authority, participation in decision-making, and career management. The study highlights the importance of effective training and development initiatives in enhancing employee performance within the AFDA, and recommends future research to examine additional factors affecting employee performance as well as other employee performance dimensions.
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