Transfer of training process. When proactive personality matters? A three-wave investigation of proactive personality as a trigger of the transfer of training process

Abstract

This study aims to investigate in a longitudinal way the role of proactive personality in enhancing transfer of training. It considers the entire transfer process, which comprises trainee characteristics (e.g. proactive personality, motivation to learn and motivation to transfer) and work environment characteristics (e.g. environment facilitation) using the Baldwin and Ford model of transfer process and subsequent developments. The sample was composed of 566 persons who completed three questionnaires: at the beginning of the training intervention (T1), at the end of the training (T2) and after having completed the tasks related to the training programme (T3). In order to investigate our proposed model, a moderated serial mediation analysis was performed. Results showed that proactive personality was related to motivation to learn (T1) which increased motivation to transfer (T2) which, in turn, in combination with environment facilitation (T3), influenced transfer of training (T3). Furthermore, we found no direct effect between proactive personality and transfer of training. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has considered proactive personality as a trigger of the process of training transfer.