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An academic turned entrepreneur, Alaina Szlachta, PhD, is the founder of By Design Development Solutions, a consulting firm specializing in data enablement. Drawing on her background as a researcher and public health educator, she partners with learning and operations teams to integrate measurement and evaluation systems into their daily practices, providing continuous feedback loops that enhance quality, efficiency, and profitability.Alaina brings a wealth of experience to her work. Her diverse client portfolio spans higher education, diversity and inclusion, finance, victim services, real estate, healthcare, and SaaS. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and marketing from Seattle University, as well as master’s and doctorate degrees in education and health education from Widener University.Alaina’s passion lies in culturally responsive teaching, demonstrating the value of learning through data enablement, designing curricula that facilitate behavior change, and championing excellence in education. She generously shares her expertise through writing, speaking engagements, and as the host of Measurement Made Easy, a free community of practice that guides practitioners in refining their impact measurement strategies.When not revolutionizing data practices, Alaina can be found exploring her adopted hometown of Austin, Texas, where she embraces an active lifestyle, running and kayaking around the scenic Lady Bird Lake.

Alaina Szlachta, PhD

Alaina Szlachta, PhD, is the founder of By Design Development Solutions and author of the recently published Measurement and Evaluation on a Shoestring. Alaina’s book provides advice for L&D professionals navigating tight budgets, limited...

Build, Borrow, or Buy Your Way to Better Evaluation with Alaina Szlachta

Measure Learning Impact Despite Limited ResourcesYear after year, talent development professionals report that lack of time, lack of support or partnership from stakeholders, and limited budgets are key barriers to measuring and evaluating their learning programs. Measurement and Evaluation on a Shoestring offers TD professionals a process to measure what matters to the organization with the tools and resources they have available. M&E pro Alaina Szlachta applies the Build-Borrow-Buy approach to provide guidance, quick tips, and shortcuts for making measurement easier while still demonstrating the value and impact of organizational learning.With this book, you will learn to ask the right questions, brainstorm metrics to evaluate learning, and build a measurement strategy that fits your needs. It also guides you on integrating measurement and evaluation into your instructional design approach from the beginning as well as using and analyzing data sources you might already have. You’ll discover how to build stakeholder relationships to secure buy-in and when to look beyond your expertise for external support and technology.The Association for Talent Development’s On a Shoestring series helps professionals successfully execute core topics in training and talent development when facing limitations of time, money, staff, and other resources. Using the Build-Borrow-Buy approach to problem solving, this series is designed for practitioners who work as a department of one; for new or “accidental” trainers, instructional designers, and learning managers who need fast, inexpensive access to practical strategies that work; and for those who work for small organizations or in industries that have limited training and development resources.

Measurement and Evaluation on a Shoestring

The impact hypothesis is a simple yet powerful statement that connects your learning initiative to specific business outcomes through a clear chain of evidence. 

Transform Your Learning Programs From “Nice to Have” to “Must Have” 

Integrating generative AI tools offers a promising way to streamline and enhance the needs analysis process. AI can help practitioners gather insights, strategize, and prepare for complex needs assessments, leading to effective training interventions.

Can Generative AI Help With Needs Analysis?

January 2024 - TD Magazine

What’s Amiss With Your Measurement and Evaluation Approach

November 2022 - TD Magazine

A review of Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems by Wendy K. Smith and Marianne W. Lewis

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