Measurement and Evaluation: Taking the Lead to Ensure Transfer

Measurement and evaluation play a significant role in determining the performance and business impact of human resource development (HRD) programs. Analyzing HRD programs allows practitioners to draw distinct conclusions about how effective the programs are and to make defendable, practical recommendations based on those conclusions.

These evaluation results can help decision makers make difficult choices such as deciding to discontinue a program that proves not to be worth the investment.

But, there is a new trend emerging for evaluation and a new role for the evaluator: to ensure the skills and knowledge provided in a program actually transfer to the work environment. The evaluator can take the lead by putting together a task force of the key players. Who the players are depends on the program as well as the way the organization is structured. Putting together this team at the beginning stages of program development will ensure the following:

• Some type of needs assessment is conducted to identify a solution.
• The solution identified takes into account potential barriers so steps can be taken to determine strategies for removing those barriers.
• Potential enablers for successful performance are identified so as to ensure those enablers are put into place.
• The solution is practical and feasible to develop and implement.
• The tools and processes needed to carry out the evaluation strategy are put into place.
• Everyone understands the program.
• Everyone feels ownership in the process. This increases participation at key critical times throughout the program planning, design, implementation, and evaluation.
• The method for communicating results of the evaluation is planned.

Strategies that ensure the transfer of learning include the following:

• Market the program.
• Design transfer strategies into the program.
• Ensure involvement by all players before, during, and after.
• Demonstrate the extent to which transfer takes place by summative evaluations.
• Communicate program success and failures to the organization so that the lessons can be used for future programs.