Publication Date

1987

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Catalanello, Ralph F.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Management

LCSH

Employees--Training of--Evaluation; Personnel management

Abstract

This thesis will examine, via a field study, the current state of the art in evaluating the effectiveness of training and development programs in business organizati ons. The field study will look at different levels of evaluation sophistication and examine how organizations are evaluating "training" programs, "development" programs, programs developed "in-house," and vendor- purchased programs. We will see that the volume of training programs conducted correlates with how much evaluation is performed. The field study will show that limited financial resources are a barrier to using better methods of evaluation for small and "unsophisticated" organi zati ons. In comparing large and small organizations, it will be shown that large organizations do more training, present more development programs, measure the effectiveness of training and development efforts more often, and use more sophisticated methods to evaluate. Several methods of evaluation that have not appeared in the literature will be presented. To summarize the state of the art of training and development evaluation, we see a trend toward a "results-oriented climate" whereby organizations are being asked to show tangible results of their training and development efforts. Because of this climate, organizations will be forced to use more sophisticated evaluation tools. The thesis concludes with one major recommendation. All organizations need to make a strong initial commitment to use more effective evaluation methods. A "results-oriented climate" based upon an intensified global economy will necessitate the use of more sophisticated methods of evaluation.

Comments

Bibliography: pages [85]-88.

Extent

v, 103 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

Download

Share

COinS