The evaluation of training is a good thing but because short term priorities always crowd out their longer term competitors, it's typically something we plan to do better next year - after all, we've got away with it so far, so another year won't hurt. There will however be a need for a greater investment in training, when major changes are needed to be made when there is stiffer competition and when times get tough.

Why is Training Evaluation Necessary?

There are many powerful reasons for conducting a systematic and thorough evaluation of your training:

To validate training as a business tool

Training is one of many actions that an organisation can take to improve its performance and profitability. Only if training is properly evaluated can it be compared against these other methods and expect, therefore, to be selected either in preference to or in combination with other methods.

To justify the costs incurred in training

We all know that when money is tight, training budgets are amongst the first to be sacrificed. Only by thorough, quantitative analysis can certain key departments make the case necessary to resist these cuts.

To help improve the design of training

Training programmes should be continuously improved to provide better value and increased benefits for an organisation. Without formal evaluation, the basis for changes can only be subjective.

To help in selecting the right leadership management training programme

These days there are many alternative approaches available to training departments. Using comparative evaluation techniques, organisations can make rational decisions about the methods to employ.