Donald L. Kirkpatrick presents a system for evaluating the effectiveness of a training program. The system assesses four types of information: the reactions of the participants, the learning they achieved, changes in their behavior, and the final business results (such as increased production, improved quality, decreased costs, or higher profits). This solid, organized approach to evaluation includes guidelines, sample questionnaires, charts and formulas, as well as case studies of companies using this approach. However, because it is fairly dry and technical, this book primarily will interest those who run or rely upon training programs. The summaries of the first chapters - covering the evaluation system - can provide managers and executives with a general idea of this approach and the research involved. But getabstract particularly recommends this book to those leading training programs, because they can use its specific material as a reference when undertaking evaluations.

During much of the past century, training programs tended to fall into two camps: classroom instruction, which focused mainly on imparting knowledge, and on - the - job training, where the emphasis was on imparting skills. The former stressed the concepts, principles, rules, and procedures to be learned and evaluated in class. The latter stressed the behaviors to be displayed and evaluated in the workplace. More recently trainers and consultants have realized that their job is not primarily to impart information but rather to improve performance by changing behavior. And that's the focus of this book. Unlike the majority of books that are written primarily for training specialists and Human Resource managers, this book is chock full of helpful hints for anyone who is responsible for the performance of others, from group leaders and technical support people to owners of small businesses and supervisors, managers, and, yes, corporate executives. ----Preface by Scott B. Parry, PhD

In this indispensable companion to the classic book Evaluating Training Programs—The Four Levels, Don and Jim Kirkpatrick offer detailed guidance for putting any or all of the Four Levels into practice. In addition, they show how to decide what to evaluate, how to get managers to support the evaluation process, and how to use the Four Levels to construct a compelling chain of evidence demonstrating the contribution of training to the bottom line.