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Training, Communications Patterns, and Spillovers Inside Organizations

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Listed:
  • Miguel Espinosa
  • Christopher T. Stanton

Abstract

This paper examines how training affects productivity across hierarchical layers within organizations. After a randomized training program for frontline employees at a government agency, trained workers' output increased while their requests for managerial assistance fell. This freed managers to focus on strategic tasks—particularly managers with the strongest connections to trained employees. A structural model of organizational hierarchies shows that spillovers to managers account for approximately 45% of the program's total benefits, indicating that evaluations focused solely on individual trainees may substantially understate the full value of training investments.

Suggested Citation

  • Miguel Espinosa & Christopher T. Stanton, 2022. "Training, Communications Patterns, and Spillovers Inside Organizations," NBER Working Papers 30224, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:30224
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    Cited by:

    1. Álvarez Pereira, Brais & Aman-Rana, Shan & Delfino, Alexia, 2024. "Team size and diversity," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 924-948.
    2. Fouarge, Didier & Fregin, Marie-Christine & Janssen, Simon & Levels, Mark & Montizaan, Raymond & Özgül, Pelin & Rounding, Nicholas & Stops, Michael, 2025. "How AI-Augmented Training Improves Worker Productivity," IZA Discussion Papers 18224, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Brosch, Hanna & Lergetporer, Philipp & Schoner, Florian, 2025. "Worker Beliefs about Firm Training," IZA Discussion Papers 18186, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Mitchell Hoffman & Christopher T. Stanton, 2024. "People, Practices, and Productivity: A Review of New Advances in Personnel Economics," NBER Working Papers 32849, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • L2 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior
    • M5 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics
    • M53 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Training

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