Although organizational studies usually consider training a practice allowing firms to create new competencies, there is not a broad agreement on the idea that companies must involve the majority of their employees in continuous training for developing their human capital and innovation. The study here discusses these arguments using evidence from 304 large enterprises in Italy. Specifically, by using data on the firms’ organizational and technological innovations and training investments, the study shows that innovation positively affects the employees participation rate and the time intensity of their training programs. Furthermore, when training is combined with other practices firms show a higher propensity to innovate. Firms’ internal development of human capital does not affect, however, the average intensity of training programs, suggesting that only few employees are actively involved in organizational learning processes.
Keywords: Formazione, pratiche organizzative, innovazione, sviluppo di capitale umano