Training on Trial: How Workplace Learning Must Reinvent Itself to Remain Relevant

by James D. Kirkpatrick, Wendy Kayser Kirkpatrick

While upbeat lingo abounds about 'complementing strategic objectives' and 'driving productivity', the fact is that most training does not make a significant enough impact on business results, and when it does, training professionals fail to make a convincing case about the value added to the bottom line. The vaunted 'business partnership model' has yet to be realized - and in tough economic times, when the training budget is often the first to be cut, training is on trial for its very existence. Using a courtroom trial as a metaphor, "Training on Trial" seeks to get to the truth about why training fails and puts the business partnership model to work for real. Readers on both sides of the 'courtroom' will learn how to stop viewing training as a cost center, and bridge the gulf between what learning functions deliver and what business units need to execute their strategies. A thought-provoking read for trainers and business unit leaders alike, "Training on Trial" provides a new application of the Kirkpatrick Four - 'Level Evaluation Model and a multitude of tips and techniques that allow lessons learned to be put into action now.

Genres: Nonfiction

239 pages, Hardcover

First published February 3, 2010

Reviews

[Sakura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t have anything to compare this with, and I’ve also just started my career in learning and development. This is also the first book I’ve read about this subject. In these contexts, this was a fantastic book to give me a starting solid foundation on how to approach training and learning in a corporate environment. It gave me a good understanding of what steps to take to make sure the work that I do adds value. Highly recommend for anyone starting out in the field!

[Jon Whitmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful look at both the importance of developing training that meets business objectives and how to go about evaluating the training to make sure it has accomplished that goal.

[Ed Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

an amazing book that I finished reading while on vacation. I'll be sure to share some of the key points with my team in the morning. I have about 30 members on my team, including a Director, Manager and Team Leader responsible for learning and development. Four senior learning and development specialists, six learning and development specialists, 8 sales reps including outside and inside sales and the remaining admin, support and customer service staff.

[Kevin Orth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone needs to justify their existence, job function, capacities, and contribution - not just to the bottom line but also the perceived value to the over all organization. This book gives concrete examples and easy to implement theory on how to properly situation the training function as a central business partner in an organization, qualifying and quantifying value add, and fresh perspective on demonstrating - as well as reorganizing - training as a critical component of any organization.

[Jeromy Peacock · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stars = Yearly re-read
4 stars = Re-read eventually
3 stars = Very Good
2 stars = OK
1 stars = Pass on this one.
0 stars = Couldn't finish it.