If You're Only Measuring Learner Satisfaction, You're Skimming the Surface
It’s likely your organization already evaluates learner satisfaction in training events, but when was the last time you comprehensively analyzed the effectiveness of your training operations?
Unlike Category 9 (ANSI/IACET 1-2018 Standard), which focuses on the success of individual learning events, Element 1.4 broadens its scope to determine the overall effect of your organization’s efforts. It states: “The Provider shall have a process to measure effectiveness of its development, administration, delivery, and support of its education/training.” (ANSI/IACET 1-2018 Standard Element 1.4) This element requires organizations to assess the health of their entire training operation to ensure the business is making a meaningful impact.
Think of It This Way
Are your programs on track to meet your organization’s business and educational goals?
Do you have a structured, repeatable process to check in on company or department-wide performance?
IACET requires that you periodically evaluate the effectiveness of your Continuing Education and Training operations to discern how successfully you’re developing, delivering, administering, and supporting the education and training within your organization.
Use Data to Drive Conclusions
The process you establish to conduct this analysis should rely on real data to form conclusions. Here are some examples of the types of information you can gather:
- Financial metrics: Revenue growth, return on investment (ROI), operational efficiency metrics
- Human Resources data: Employee engagement/satisfaction, performance management data, mentoring programs success rates
- Learner/Customer data: Customer satisfaction and feedback through surveys, interviews, and scores
- Reference material/data: Sourced from academic institutions, multilateral organizations, government agencies, and non-government organizations
What to Submit for Element 1.4
To meet the requirements of Element 1.4, you’ll need to submit two things:
- The documented process you follow to gather the data and evaluate your organization’s effectiveness. This process should clearly outline who does what, when, and how in a step-by-step level of detail. Include an introduction or overview, inputs and outputs, and the tools required.
- Your completed organizational evaluation: a report that is evidence of having conducted your process. You don’t need to include every piece of raw data used to create the report; share the final product that demonstrates you followed your process.
Remember, this process is about organizational effectiveness, not just individual course success, though you may include course-level data as part of your broader evaluation.
Look Beyond Individual Events
You’ve invested so much in your training. Don’t settle for anything less than excellence. Look beyond each learning event for the bigger picture. This evaluation is the fundamental difference between getting by and making a real difference in the industry you serve.
About the Author
Alexa Combs currently serves as IACET's Accreditation Specialist. With a passion for helping others learn and grow, she's enthusiastic about sharing all that IACET accreditation has to offer training organizations. Having earned two degrees, including a Master of Education from George Mason University, her experience in education began prior to her six years with IACET. Alexa lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and son.