| “Evaluation is the process for gathering information about the worth or quality of something as a way of making decisions to increase its worth or quality” (New by et al, p.220)13. It is the systematic acquisition of feedback on the use, worth or impact of some activity, program or process in relation to its intended outcome (Naidu, 2006)14. Though evaluation is put at the end, it is in fact a continuous and on-going process that takes place at all the stages of the training cycle. Ultimately, training must be judged by its impact on the organization.
This requires hard data on measurable objectives, such as increased sales, market share, reduced operating costs, lower rates of absenteeism, or whatever other objective the training was designed to achieve. Although other forces may affect these measurable criteria, it is nonetheless important that training be tied to corporate objectives all the way through to the payoff stage. |