Training RAI(TM) - Raising the Bar through Assessments

Below is an abstract of a white paper highlighting the role and impact of a training needs assessment in any effective employee performance development programs, or the risks of bypassing this critical step in the process.

The majority of learning initiatives continue to bypass individual skill assessments prior to designing or delivering new programs. Skipping over this first step of assessing gaps is one of the root causes driving a nearly 90%+ learning program failure rate.
If that sounds surprising, try to remember the last training session that resulted in measurable and sustainable behavior change. Then try to remember a session that quantifiably impacted revenue, costs, or productivity. Does the fact that the great majority of training initiatives fail still seem so far fetched?

When we ask leaders about behavior change and impact related to training, we typically get a long pause and then a pensive and pained look. Then we usually get a long answer that would make many politicians proud for the lack of clarity and specifics.

Unfortunately, the training bar is still too low. Most people continue to consider training “successful” simply when participants get a few “Aha’s” and feel that it was not a waste of time. We can’t think of another business process that gets less scrutiny or has lower expectations than training. The training bar needs to be raised.