Validation of the Learning Transfer System Inventory(LTSI) in Public and Private Organizations in Korea

As more organizations focus on transfer issues, the need for a valid instrument that can measure the factors affecting the transfer of training has become urgent in the HRD field. To address this need, Holton and his colleagues have developed and validated the Learning Transfer System Inventory (LTSI), a psychologically sound instrument designed to measure the key system factors influencing the transfer of training in organizations. The LTSI has been validated not only in the U.S. but also in several other countries. Some studies in Korea have used the LTSI as a tool to measure the factors affecting the transfer of training in a variety of organizations. However, such studies have tended to use it without using rigorous translation procedures such as forward and backward translations, subjective and objective evaluations, and a pilot test. In addition, the LTSI has never been validated in Korea. Accordingly, this study proposes a Korean version of the LTSI that is culturally more appropriate for future research on transfer issues: the proposed Korean version was developed by translating the LTSI into Korean by using a rigorous translation procedure and validating it in a variety of organizations in Korea. In addition, this study examined the differences in the characteristics of the learning transfer system between private and public organizations by using the proposed Korean version of the LTSI. The results show there are significant differences in 13 factors with an exception of one factor, personal outcomes - negative factor between two types of organizations.