1.5 - About University

14.3N E EDS A NALYSIS: MEASURING R E TURNON T RAINING I NVESTMENTSInspired by Donald Kirkpatrick, Robert Mager, and Trisha Wilcox.A leader’s success in developing people is a key competitive advantage in knowledge-basedwork environments. Yet training is costly: Participants’ time away from work, course design,and travel all cost money, not to mention your time as a coach to ensure that employees’ newknowledge and skills are being used effectively on the job. In addition, investments in trainingare all too often poorly selected and ineffective. This tool will help you measure trainingROI (return on investment).You can measure the success of a training event on four levels, from the most commonlyused but least helpful measure (participant reaction) through to the most complex but mosthelpful measure (actual results).1. ReactionThe four levels ofmeasurementWhat is measured and its valueas a measurementMeasures how a participant feels abouta training event.Least helpful, but easiest to measure.Typical measuring processAsk participants to complete a trainingcourse evaluation form.Ask: “How do you feel about what youlearned at the training event?”2. Learning3. Performance4. ResultsMeasures how much the participantlearned during the training event.Most helpful in technical training,when there is one best way to do thejob.Measures how well participants areusing their learning on the job.Most helpful when training is skillbasedand there is one best way to dothe job.Measures return on investment for atraining event.The most definitive measure, yet leastused, as measurement is complex andcostly.Standardized testing. Pre- and postlearning-eventmeasures are required.Usually measured by observing on-thejobperformance. Pre- and post-learning-eventmeasures are required.Often it’s impossible to directly connectthe acquisition of new knowledgeand skills in a given learning event tobottom-line business goals.Post-learning-event measures are rarely helpful without pre-event measures. The needsanalysis and return on investment process shown here is based on the four levels of measurementalready outlined.434 SECTION 14 TOOLS FOR LEARNING