Measuring success in training

Measuring success in training

There is a propensity within the construction industry to measure the success of training by measuring how many people go through the training, and often, how fast can they get through it.

This gives the illusion of a successful roll-out, but it only really measures bums on seats.

There is often little to no measurement of the successful application of the techniques that have been instructed/trained/communicated in the course.

There is often little to no follow up with attendees to make them use the tools that they have just been told about, tools that they presumably didn't know about before attending, so weren't using.

And if they weren't using them before, just sticking them on the course, will not, in the majority of cases, lead to them using the tools now requested of them.

If we shifted the measure from bums on seats to successful application of techniques taught/learned/communicated, we would massively increase the implementation of these tools and see a significant rise in performance.

But, it's just a little bit more difficult, so most will continue to measure bums on seats and rationalise their decision to do so with the belief that education and awareness is enough to drive behaviour.