Training vs. Development — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Published on October 2, 2023
Training focuses on teaching specific skills or behaviors for immediate use. Development is broader, aimed at fostering long-term growth and improvement.
Difference Between Training and Development
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Training is often centered around immediate needs, such as acquiring a particular skill set or adhering to a specific company policy. Development, however, tends to look at the long-term growth and capabilities of an individual or organization. These two concepts, although related, have different timelines and scopes.
Training usually involves structured programs or courses designed to impart specific skills or knowledge. Development, conversely, often includes a variety of activities, such as mentorship, job rotation, and attending seminars, which don't necessarily have immediate applications but are intended for long-term growth.
Training is generally easier to measure in terms of success because it targets specific goals or outcomes. Development, on the other hand, is more nebulous to quantify. Its benefits may only become visible over an extended period, making it harder to assess its immediate effectiveness.
Training is usually a prerequisite for performing a specific job or role effectively. Development, however, prepares individuals not just for their current roles but for future roles and challenges as well. Essentially, training gears you for now, while development gears you for the future.
Comparison Chart
Focus
Short-term, specific skills
Long-term, broad capabilities
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Structure
Structured courses or programs
Varied activities
Measurement
Easier to quantify
Difficult to quantify
Applicability
Immediate use
Future use
Career Relevance
Specific roles
Broad career growth
Compare with Definitions
Training
Training focuses on short-term goals.
Training is essential for immediate performance improvement.
Development
Development encompasses a variety of activities.
Development can include courses, mentorship, and on-the-job experience.
Training
Training is often structured.
The company offers a three-week training program for new hires.
Development
Development is harder to measure immediately.
The impact of development efforts may take time to become visible.
Training
Training has immediate applicability.
First-aid training provides immediate, life-saving skills.
Development
The process of developing or being developed
The paintings provide evidence of his artistic development
She traces the development of the novel
Training
Training involves imparting specific skills.
The software training helped employees become proficient in the new system.
Development
An event constituting a new stage in a changing situation
I don't think there have been any new developments since yesterday
Training
Training is typically role-specific.
Customer service training is a must for all support agents.
Development
The process of converting land to a new purpose by constructing buildings or making use of its resources
Land suitable for development
Training
Training is teaching, or developing in oneself or others, any skills and knowledge or fitness that relate to specific useful competencies. Training has specific goals of improving one's capability, capacity, productivity and performance.
Development
The process of starting to be affected by an ailment or feeling
The development of brittle bones
Training
The process or routine of one who trains.
Development
The process of treating photographic film with chemicals to make a visible image
Agitation is carried out while a film is processed to ensure even development
Training
The state of being trained.
Development
The process of bringing one's pieces into play in the opening phase of a game
I sought to take advantage of Black's defective development
Training
Present participle of train
Development
The application of techniques or technology to the production of new goods or services.
Training
Action of the verb to train. en
Development
The business of constructing buildings or otherwise altering land for new uses.
Training
The activity of imparting and acquiring skills.
Development
A significant event, occurrence, or change
A news story covering the latest developments in the scandal.
Training
The result of good social upbringing.
Development
A group of dwellings built by the same contractor
Bought a condo in a new development built by the river.
Training
(computing) The process by which two modems determine which protocol and speed to use; handshaking.
Development
The organized activity of soliciting donations or grants; fundraising.
Training
(voice recognition) The recording of multiple samples of a user's voice to aid pattern recognition.
Development
Elaboration of a theme with rhythmic and harmonic variations.
Training
The act of one who trains; the act or process of exercising, disciplining, etc.; education.
Development
The central section of a movement in sonata form, in which the theme is elaborated and explored.
Training
Activity leading to skilled behavior
Development
(uncountable) The process of developing; growth, directed change.
The development of this story has been slow.
Training
The result of good upbringing (especially knowledge of correct social behavior);
A woman of breeding and refinement
Development
The process by which a mature multicellular organism or part of an organism is produced by the addition of new cells.
The organism has reached a crucial stage in its development.
Development
(countable) Something which has developed.
Our news team brings you the latest developments.
Development
A project consisting of one or more commercial or residential buildings.
Development
The building of such a project.
Development
(uncountable) The application of new ideas to practical problems (cf. research).
Our development department has produced three new adhesives this year.
Development
The active placement of the pieces, or the process of achieving it.
White's development is good, but black's has been hampered by the pawn on e5.
Development
(music) The process by in which previous material is transformed and restated.
Development
(music) The second section of a piece of music in sonata form, in which the original theme is revisited in altered and varying form.
Development
(math) The expression of a function in the form of a series.
Development
The act of developing or disclosing that which is unknown; a gradual unfolding process by which anything is developed, as a plan or method, or an image upon a photographic plate; gradual advancement or growth through a series of progressive changes; also, the result of developing, or a developed state.
A new development of imagination, taste, and poetry.
Development
The series of changes which animal and vegetable organisms undergo in their passage from the embryonic state to maturity, from a lower to a higher state of organization.
Development
The act or process of changing or expanding an expression into another of equivalent value or meaning.
Development
The elaboration of a theme or subject; the unfolding of a musical idea; the evolution of a whole piece or movement from a leading theme or motive.
Development
A tract of land on which a number of buildings have been constructed; - especially used for tract on which from two to hundreds of houses have been constructed by a commercial developer{4} for sale to individuals.
Development
Act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining;
He congratulated them on their development of a plan to meet the emergency
They funded research and development
Development
A process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage);
The development of his ideas took many years
The evolution of Greek civilization
The slow development of her skill as a writer
Development
A recent event that has some relevance for the present situation;
Recent developments in Iraq
What a revolting development!
Development
The act of making some area of land or water more profitable or productive or useful;
The development of Alaskan resources
The exploitation of copper deposits
Development
A district that has been developed to serve some purpose;
Such land is practical for small park developments
Development
A state in which things are improving; the result of developing (as in the early part of a game of chess);
After he saw the latest development he changed his mind and became a supporter
In chess your should take care of your development before moving your queen
Development
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level;
He proposed an indicator of osseous development in children
Development
Processing a photosensitive material in order to make an image visible;
The development and printing of his pictures took only two hours
Development
Development aims at long-term growth.
Professional development prepares you for career advancement.
Development
Development is broad in scope.
Development programs usually cover a range of skills and competencies.
Development
Development prepares individuals for future roles.
Leadership development is crucial for upcoming managers.
Common Curiosities
What is Development?
Development aims at fostering long-term growth and improvement.
Is Development short-term or long-term?
Development is geared toward long-term growth.
What is Training?
Training focuses on teaching specific skills or behaviors for immediate use.
Is Training short-term or long-term?
Training is usually geared toward short-term goals.
How is Development measured?
Development is often more difficult to quantify.
Is Training role-specific?
Training is often tailored for specific roles or tasks.
Is Training structured?
Training usually involves structured programs or courses.
How is Training measured?
Training is generally easier to quantify in terms of success.
Is Training only for new hires?
Training can be for both new hires and existing employees.
Can Development include Training?
Development programs often include specific training elements.
Is Development structured?
Development can include a variety of unstructured activities.
Is Development role-specific?
Development is broader and not confined to specific roles.
Is Development only for existing employees?
Development can be for both existing employees and new hires.
Can Training include Development?
Training can be a part of a larger development program.
Which is more important, Training or Development?
Both are important but serve different purposes; training for immediate needs and development for long-term growth.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
