The role of evaluation.
Posted by Esther at 2.01pm on 15 October 2009
Research still shows that while organisations invest in learning & development, they tend to ignore evaluation and therefore never know whether the investment was worth it or not. Informal conversations with clients suggest that a combination of factors operate: a lack of confidence, knowledge and planning. Here are some tips.One reason often cited, is the difficulty of evaluating programmes that are designed to develop so-called ‘soft skills’. The process by which changes in attitude or behaviour take place is unique to each individual. Moreover, these changes are often subtle, complex and remain ‘hidden’ within the experience of the individual.
The problem is intensified by the way that programme evaluation is commonly perceived and treated. It is perceived as an ‘objective’ measurement of change, by an outsider, using quantitative data. And it is usually treated as an end-on activity rather than one that is fully integrated into the programme’s design and delivery.
The solution is to take a much broader view. In particular, if evaluation is considered at the design stage, then it can be built into the vision of the programme and opportunities for gathering data can be created and made use of.
For example, built into any good development programme are methods (like Action Learning) designed to help individuals to identify their learning and to integrate that learning into their work practice. The main skill set being developed here concerns self-evaluation. Through dialogue (with colleagues, line manager or trainers) the individual examines their own behaviour in situations and any changes that can be made to achieve the outcome they want. Such a process produces stories of how the programme impacts on the work performance of individuals. If captured, these stories represent rich data for evaluation purposes. They can be validated by the accounts of line managers, colleagues and direct reports of the changes they experience, as well as by the collection of other kinds of data.
Evaluation takes many forms. Done well, it provides a powerful process for supporting and maintaining organisational change. The least we should expect from it is to tell us whether an investment in development has paid off or not. Ignoring evaluation completely benefits no-one.
Tags: Evaluation