Training on Trial: The Urgent Need to Become a Strategic Business Partner

Jim Kirkpatrick, PhD, Vice President, Global Training and Consulting, SMR USA
Recorded on December 16, 2009

In 1959, Don Kirkpatrick wrote four articles that soon after became known as the Kirkpatrick Four Levels of Evaluation (reaction, learning, behavior, results). It is a widely known fact that this model is the global standard in the industry. What isn't widely known is that in those original articles over 50 years ago, Don wrote the words, "Training managers had better learn to evaluate their programs in relation to the needs of the business before the day of reckoning arrives."

We believe that for most learning professionals and organizations, the day of reckoning is here. This webinar is designed to help you prepare for the time when you are asked, or proactively choose, to effectively create and then demonstrate the value of your learning's contribution to the bottom line.

Why, after 50 years, are we not all doing enough of this? We have been all too comfortable in our role to design, develop, and deliver training programs. While our industry is on trial, accused of costs exceeded our value, there has never been a better opportunity for us to create a learning and performance legacy, as executives the world over are looking for any means of getting back on track.

Five foundational principles of executing this business partnership approach that will be detailed include: 

1. The end is the beginning (and you thought it all starts at Level 1!).
2. Return on Expectations^SM is the ultimate indicator of value.
3. Business partnership is necessary to bring about positive ROE^SM.
4. Value must be created before it can be demonstrated.
5. A compelling Chain of Evidence^SM demonstrates your bottom line value.

Along with this will be the presentation of the complete, fresh look at the Kirkpatrick Model.

During this session, you will:

• Obtain practical methods that will move you from a "checkmark training organization" to a strategic business partner.
• Learn how to Leverage Level 3 to maximize the impact of training on the bottom line.
• Learn how to use the Kirkpatrick Business Partnership Model^SM to demonstrate the value of training to a "corporate jury".

Benefits of participating:

• You will finally be able to get beyond, "smile sheets, pre and posttests, and hope for the best."
• You will better be able to leverage the true Kirkpatrick Model to increase your impact to your stakeholders.
• You will learn how to target your learning initiative efforts on what is truly mission critical.
• You will find out how to get more detailed information on all of the concepts and techniques presented.
• Learn about best practices from Fortune 500 companies including Harley-Davidson, Georgia-Pacific, and L'Oreal.

Jim Kirkpatrick, PhD, is the Vice President of Global Training and Consulting for SMR USA.  He presents workshops for and provides consulting to Fortune 500 companies around the world, primarily in the field of evaluation. Jim has recently worked with clients including Harley-Davidson, Booz Allen Hamilton, L'Oreal, Clarian Health Care, Ingersoll Rand, Honda Manufacturing, the Royal Air Force, and the Abu Dhabi Police Department.

Jim's major areas of expertise are implementing the four levels of evaluation, coaching managers to reinforce training, the business partnership model, and executing strategy.

Jim has co-written 3 books on evaluation and leveraging business success with his father, Don Kirkpatrick, the developer of the four levels. With his wife and partner Wendy, he has co-authored Kirkpatrick Then and Now (Kirkpatrick Partners, 2009) and Training on Trial, which is due to be released by AMACOM in February, 2010.

Jim and the rest of his SMR USA team have a partnership with Training Magazine, which includes hosting an annual Kirkpatrick Evaluation Summit each February, and with ISPI.