Talent development professionals are keenly aware of the need for rigorous evaluation data that can be used to drive learning and business results. However, organizations are struggling to launch efforts to measure the business impact of learning. 

In ATD’s most recent research report, Evaluating Learning: Getting to Measurements That Matter, 35 percent of the 199 talent development professionals surveyed reported that their organizations evaluate the business results of learning programs to any extent. Also, only 15 percent measure the return on investment (ROI) of any learning programs. 

Given these rates, it is not surprising that only 36 percent of participants thought their talent development function’s evaluation efforts were helping to a large extent with meeting their employer’s business goals. Indeed, organizations that measured the business impact or ROI of learning programs were more likely to see their evaluation efforts drive business success. 

So what’s holding organizations back from conducting effective evaluations? The top barriers named by survey participants included difficultly isolating the impact of learning programs on results, and a lack of: 

• access to necessary data, such as financial or employee performance records 

• learning management system functionality  

• resources, such as staff time and tools needed to conduct evaluations. 

The Study also found that organizations struggle greatly to attract talent development staff with the needed skills to conduct rigorous evaluations, including designing evaluations, collecting and analyzing data, interpreting findings, and making recommendations. Organizations also face challenges in retaining these staff members once they are hired, with only 12 percent of participants reporting that retaining staff with evaluation abilities was an easy task. 

ATD Research recognizes the need for more effective evaluation efforts that drive the success of learning programs and the business overall. Consequently, Evaluating Learning: Getting to Measurements That Matter dives deeper into the types of measurements organizations with successful evaluation programs are taking, the programs that are being evaluated, and the specific approaches and tools being used. It also discusses how organizations can overcome the barriers described above. The report was sponsored by the International Association For Continuing Education And Training (IACET). The full report will be available April 13, 2016, for purchase at www.td.org/evaluation.