Rapid Evaluation by Susan Barksdale and Terri Lund

Rapid Evaluation is the first book in the ASTD Learning and Performance workbook series, which is intended to provide workplace learning and performance (WLP) professionals with a foundation of core concepts, practices, and tools. Rapid Evaluation emphasizes that a strategic approach to evaluation enables the WLP professional to link interventions more closely to business goals, strategies, and performance indicators, while providing business partners with the information they need to make better decisions about the use of WLP products and services. The book provides specific case study examples, checklists, and other tools.

It should be noted that the authors do not use net program benefits when defining the formula for calculating the return-on-investment (ROI) of an intervention. They also categorize ROI evaluation as a high-intensity Level 4 methodology, used to prove that the intervention paid for itself or generated more financial benefits than costs. The authors supply several criteria to distinguish between moderate- and high-intensity tools. The authors contend that building a high-intensity tool requires some form of statistical analysis that allows interpretation of the data in relation to other factors. While evaluation professionals could debate the use of additional methods to isolate and analyze the impact of other variables - including the use of estimates - the book's basic premise about developing tools as part of an overall evaluation strategy is valuable and consistent with other leading evaluation resources.

A solid evaluation strategy that is linked to clear business objectives helps to position the WLP professional as an influential business partner and a leader in human performance improvement. For WLP professionals challenged with showing the worth of their function or their efforts, Rapid Evaluation provides many practical, user-friendly tools and job aids for approaching evaluation strategically.