abdi newsletter

Issue 34 - February 2010

Greetings from abdi
abdi ltd has a depth of experience unique in the UK, in impact measurement and ROI within L&D. We teach the tools to effectively plan, measure and evaluate all business activity.  To discover how abdi can help you and your organisation, visit our website at www.abdi.eu.com




Editorial

Late in 2009, ASTD (the American Society of Training and Development www.astd.org) published their annual 'State of the Industry Report'. These annual reports, while largely reflecting the state of L&D in US firms, do include non US firm data and provide an important set of benchmarks for anyone planning or managing Learning and Development and Performance Improvement investments at work. There's a lot of detail in the report which details the performance and practices of over 300 organisations. Of these, it provides some additional data on approximately 12% of these firms; what they call BEST organisations. These are 'Organizations that were honoured for their exceptional efforts to foster, support, and leverage enterprise-wide learning for business results.'  It's these results that I thought our clients are likely to find most interesting and extracted below. Those that work with us, will note the headings we recommend to use as a framework to manage their L&D and Performance Management portfolios.

Alignment
The BEST have formal processes to align business strategies with learning initiatives and priorities. The BEST map learning resources to competencies, individual development plans, roles, and corporate goals.

Efficiency
The BEST maximize the efficiency of the learning function by balancing centralized and decentralized aspects of the learning function, internal process improvement, use of technology, and strategic outsourcing.

Effectiveness
The BEST maximize the effectiveness of learning by aligning learning activities with business needs and providing timely access to relevant learning opportunities.

Investment
In general, the BEST spend more, but many spend less than the norm.

Measurement
The BEST demonstrate effectiveness by monitoring individual and organizational performance indicators and linking changes in performance to learning and non-training performance improvement activities.

Results
Almost all BEST organizations reported improvements in employee and customer satisfaction, quality of products and services, cycle time, productivity, retention, revenue, and overall profitability.

Non-training activities
BEST Award winners allocated 38.6 percent of the learning function's resources in 2008 to non-training activities such as performance analysis, organizational development, talent management, and process improvement.

Do consider reading the report, it provides a rich set of data from one full year during the recent economic downturn as well as linking this data to trends over many years. Although the organisations tend to be large, there are lessons to be learned for organisations of all sizes and sectors. If you'd like some help in interpreting the data to make it relevant for planning for your organisation, please do get in touch with us.

Jane Massy


abdi's First ROI Workshop in Scotland 

We are pleased to announce the launch of abdi's first ever ROI Foundation Certificate course to be held in Edinburgh from the 30-31st March, hosted by Visit Scotland. For more information about the course and how to register email us at info@abdi.eu.com or visit our website at www.abdi.eu.com

Training Journal awards 2010

Each year the Training Journal holds an award ceremony to recognise achievements of organisations and individuals for their approach to work based training and learning and development. This year they have introduced a new award the 'Peer award for innovation' abdi would like to encourage all that have applied the knowledge they gained from the ROI Foundation or Evaluator workshops into their programmes and projects and feel they are starting to see positive results from this to enter for the award. For more information about the award and how to apply visit www.trainingjournal.com/awards

If you require any help or guidance in reporting your results please contact us at info@abdi.eu.com where we will be more then happy to help.


Thinking of running an in-house course?

If you require any information about project or programme evaluation and consultancy services or would like to discuss the possibility of running one of our in-house courses to build the competency of your HR and L&D teams, contact abdi at info@abdi.eu.com


Certificates awarded

We would like to say well done to the following candidates who have all passed and will receive their Edexcel ROI Foundation Award certificates.

Kathy Westgate - E-learning lead, NHS
Margaret Seiffert - Associate Director, Foundation Degree Forward
Eleanor Thompson - Hull and East Yorkshire PCT, NHS
Richard Lee McMorn - Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, North West Vision and Media
Andrew Cunningham - UK Sales Academy Manager, Aviva


ROI is a key tool for managing L&D and HR objectives and budgets

Make yourself one of the smart practitioners who can bring Gold Standard impact planning and evaluation to your organisation - reserve your place on one of our 2010 courses now

ROI Foundation Certificate courses: Scotland
30-31 March

ROI Foundation Certificate courses
8-9 March
21-22 June
20-21 September
15-16 November

ROI Evaluator Certificate courses
7-9 June
17-19 November

To talk about bringing our course in-house to you and your colleagues, to host a course for your sector, distribution network or key stakeholders, for further information on any of abdi ltd's courses or to book your place call (01223) 360240 or email us at info@abdi.eu.com


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