Training Design and Evaluation

Improving feedback and reducing costs for training evaluation

A large multi-national technology company wanted to improve the quality and timeliness of their training evaluations. They had been using an evaluation designer to gather and analyze data by conducting global surveys post-training - a time-consuming and costly process. They wanted to improve knowledge flows throughout the training activities and receive more real-time feedback.

This diagram showed their situation, with the intangible knowledge flows (in blue) being very limited. Further, with feedback only coming at the very end of the training activity, there was too much of a learning delay before improvements could be made. The goal was to eliminate the costly role of Evaluation Designer and embed more immediate feedback all through the training activity.

In this diagram the internal value network has been reconfigured, eliminating the role of Evaluation Designer. Evaluation data gathering has been embedded in the design and delivery activities for training, and knowledge flows expanded (in blue). The business results were a cost savings of $50,000 per training program, higher levels of competency for Program Managers and Trainers, and faster feedback for Program Designers and Business Units.

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