| Measuring
Performance Improvement The third
purpose of evaluations is to measure the extent to which performance has improved and
results have been achieved. These evaluations can usually best be made if participants
have very specific improvement objectives and have prepared comprehensive action plans
during the seminar. The development of targeted performance improvement plans provides an
important opportunity to document the tangible results that training has contributed to
the organization.
In order to document meaningful improvements in individual
and organizational performance, a number of important follow-up steps must be taken.
Without an effective post-program support and follow-up effort, the implementation of the
participants' action plans may be left up to chance.
Therefore, two to four weeks following the seminar,
participants should either attend a one-half day follow-up action planning session or
complete a follow-up questionnaire that evaluates the extent to which they have made
progress in implementing their plans, the degree to which their immediate supervisor has
provided assistance, and the level of support they have given their people who have
attended the seminar.
Conducting follow-up action planning sessions signals to
participants that the organization is placing a priority on implementing the action plans.
These follow-up efforts give participants an opportunity to:
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improve or extend their action
plans;
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compare their progress with that
of their peers;
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review the obstacles they have
encountered and
identify ways to overcome them;
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learn about the successful steps
taken by others
that can be incorporated into their plans; and
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work jointly with their peers on
plans whose
objectives require collaborative effort. |
If for reasons of logistics a follow-up questionnaire is all
that is administered, it is recommended that the questionnaire be distributed and
evaluated by the management level that is one level higher than the most senior level
attending the program. In this way, direct action can be taken by line management to
ensure that real progress is made in implementing the action plans. It is for this reason
that it is essential to get senior management support for training. If the programs
support the achievement of their strategic and operating objectives, senior management
will be more interested in following up to ensure that plans are implemented and results
measured.
Depending on the objectives of the program, the final results
of action plans should be measured three to six months following the seminar. It is
important to let participants know that management will review the results of their plans.
In that way, participants are stimulated to implement their plans and will look forward to
measuring the extent to which they are able to make the improvements that they intended
to.
The action planning process can be tied into a performance
appraisal system, thereby formalizing this planning, implementation and review effort. Or
follow-up seminars can be scheduled in which participants report on the results they have
been able to obtain from their action plans. In these follow-up programs, participants
should be asked to prepare presentations of the specific results they have achieved, so
that everyone gets direct exposure to creative solutions to common problems as well as an
opportunity to identify ways to overcome obstacles. After evaluating the results of their
action plans, participants can use the feedback they have received from their peers to
prepare additional action plans.
Demonstrating results through training is a comprehensive
effort; one that requires that care be taken during the needs assessment, program design
and program implementation phases of the training process. If care is taken, then the
results of the evaluations will be positive.
Program evaluations help measure the effectiveness of the
training process so that programs can be revised and improved. They also help measure the
extent to which real behavioral change occurred as a result of training. And most
importantly, program evaluations help document specific and tangible improvements in
performance.
We hope that our experience will assist you as you design,
follow-up and measure the results of your training programs. We are confident that if we
work together to take the steps outlined in this overview, we will be able to demonstrate
measurable improvements in the performance of your organization.
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