What Makes a Great Training Organization?

Learners have changed--radically. Businesses have changed--even more radically. If you're a learning leader, you know your organization must change just as profoundly. You may already be working to lead that change. This book shares best practices that will help you focus your scarce resources on achieving excellence where it matters most today and where it will matter most tomorrow. Doug Harward and Ken Taylor have spent more than 10 years identifying and validating the specific processes and practices associated with outstanding training organization performance. Building on this unprecedented research, they help you define priorities that tightly align with business goals and objectives, choose best practices you can realistically implement, and get results.

Reflecting comprehensive new research, this book identifies eight sets of training processes proven to drive the greatest sustainable performance improvements. Drawing on their pioneering training industry experience, Doug Harward and Ken Taylor drill down into each set of capabilities, helping you build on what you're already doing well, and achieve excellence on the business metrics that matter most. This evidence-based best-practice guide helps you focus your efforts where they will deliver the greatest value, build implementation roadmaps based on the field's hard-earned wisdom, and successfully execute. Reflecting profound insights into today's learners and corporate goals, it will help you excel whether you deliver training internally, purchase services from suppliers, or supply training services to businesses.

Optimize the value of training by focusing on these eight process areas:

Strategic Alignment: Design learning programs that align with business objectives.

Content Development: Assess, design, manage, and maintain content.

Delivery: Manage instructor networks and deliver via multiple modalities.

Diagnostics: Identify causes of problems and recommend solutions.

Reporting & Analysis: Define business metrics, report data, make improvements.

Technology Integration: Integrate learning technologies with each other and enterprise systems.

Administrative Services: Support learners via scheduling, registration, and more.

Portfolio Management: Manage, rationalize, and maintain large program portfolios.