Acorn Coaching and Development

Insights

Acorn’s 5 Step Plan to Evaluate Training Effectiveness in the Workplace

Can training and development programmes really be measured and evaluated in a tangible way?

This is probably one of the most commonly asked questions prior to making a commitment to any large investment and to an organisation-wide project. At Acorn, we believe that training can be evaluated but, more importantly, we believe it should be evaluated.

Although fashionable and in demand complex statistical methods of measuring ROI at best can seem like a time consuming diversion from the task at hand, at worst the results are often unsatisfactory.

Therefore, we have developed a simple 5 step plan to ensure all training is continually evaluated and is making a real contribution to the business goals of the organisation.

1. Business performance and change

At this stage we need to establish a benchmark against which all future evaluation is measured. We look at issues such as:

• Goals of the business
• Attitudes
• Morale and commitment
• Productivity
• Profitability
• Existing working practices

2. Identifying training needs

We use a variety of tools to assess and understand the specifics of the training required to achieve the necessary outcome. These include:

• The use of 360° feedback tools
• Setting a benchmark of business drivers and needs
• Training needs analysis tools

3. The development programme

This stage looks primarily at direct feedback at the point of training delivery and includes tools such as:

• Feedback sheets
• Self reporting
• Action plans
• Review of objective attainment

4. Review stage outcomes

In a long term programme, we believe it’s advisable to measure and evaluate effectiveness at interim periods. This allows us to make changes that will ensure the total project meets the agreed objectives. Interim measurement includes:

• Before and after tests
• Self reporting and/or action planning
• Reviews of objective attainment

5. Behavioural change

This final change looks at the degree with which the completed project has made significant behavioural or attitude changes measured against the original benchmark. Tactics used include:

• Anecdotal evidence of visible behaviour change
• 360° feedback and self reporting tools
• Before and after testing
• Assessment of line managers
• Reviews of objective attainment

By utilising this 5 step plan throughout our programmes, Acorn ensure that our clients get real business value and results from their investment.

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