The article discusses the changes in the training and development industry in the 1980s by referring to three articles from previous issues of the journal "T+D." The 1980s also examined key strategies for retaining employees and new ways of achieving worker competency, and created flexible learning opportunities for employees so that they could gather new information at times, places, and paces convenient for them. The first article titled "Gearing Up for the Eighties," by Malcolm S. Knowles suggested that the biggest change trainers needed to adjust to in the 1980s was a shift away from the knowledge and skill transition model and a movement toward the competency development model. The second article titled "Productivity in the 1980s: Are You Ready?," by Glenn H. Varney suggested that trainers must be ready for the changes that would take place in the 1980s. The third article titled "Retrain or Retain: A Prescription for the 1980s," by Jane Raitt proposed that economic swings of the 1980s, coupled with the rapidly changing technology, forced companies to restructure their organizations and that led to company downsizing.