Assessing E-Learning Effectiveness in Corporate Environment

Dave Boggs of Syberworks posted a link to a great primer on measurement of the effectiveness of e-learning in corporations. I've had similar discussions with quite a few people over the past few years, especially as this is one area I focus on in my consulting. Without true measurement of effectiveness, how can training departments truly justify their existence? If they cannot demonstrate how courses delivered contribute to the organization's bottom line, budgets are likely cut when times get tough...

Corporate managers are constantly looking for more cost-effective ways to deliver training to their employees. E-learning is less expensive than traditional classroom instruction. In addition, many expenses – booking training facilities, travel costs for employees or trainers, plus employee time away from the job – are greatly reduced. However, some firms that have spent large amounts of money on new e-learning efforts have not received the desired economic advantages.

In 1999, E-learning was seen as the cure for the training ailments. However, when effectiveness was not measured as a part of the process, and those promised 3000% ROIs didn't materialize, organizations slammed on the brakes and claimed "this stuff doesn't work!"

Measuring e-learning effectiveness is not rocket science, nor is measurement of traditional training - you actually have to do it, do it right, AND be consistent. And when something is no longer effective, change it!

Read the full article by Judith B. Strother of the Florida Institute of Technology to find out more about e-learning measurement.

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Shannon Lear Martin is the President of Austin, Texas based TrainUtopia (www.trainutopia.com) and helps companies improve their organizational performance to meet their business goals. She is also considered an expert in training effectiveness measurement. Shannon publishes a monthly newsletter “Training News You Can Use” http://www.trainutopia.com/news.htm , which is jammed with resources, articles and tips on performance improvement, training and development. She can be reached at smartin@trainutopia.com.