Learning organizations have undergone immense change and challenge in recent months. A quick shift from face-to-face learning to virtual or on-demand learning has caused many learning organizations to rapidly deploy learning without rigorous testing or quality control. To make matters more complicated, the learners themselves are stressed and struggling under new working conditions and the need for learning to deliver relevant application and impact in a moment of need has never been greater.
It is because of the aforementioned factors that learning should use measurement as a tool to help manage in these uncertain times. However measurement should not be a traditional smile sheet but it doesn't need to be highly precise and perfect because these are far from perfect times.
Instead use learning measurement to evaluate quality of the design and delivery but also whether the learning was useful in the learners moment of need. In addition, depending on the program, measure the right talent or business outcomes. For example, in April we helped an organization derive a few simple questions to evaluate learners responses to whether they felt learning was supporting them in a responsive yet responsible way during the pandemic. Another example is just last week where we helped an organization think about evaluation questions to measure a diversity and inclusion program. We derived a short set of questions about belonging, self-awareness and organizational commitment.
Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher was believed to have said "The only constant in life is change." This is true and change can be uncomfortable and yield uncertainty. As a learning professional, adapt simple, practical yet meaningful approaches to measure your programs in times of uncertainty. Measurement is a way to manage risks, reduce stress and provide indicators that well-intended programs are reaching people in the right way when they need it the most.
If you want to speak to someone on our team about measurement, contact us.
Thank you,
The Performitiv Team
