A recent survey of 84 corporate and government training professionals by Expertus and Training Industry, Inc. found that more training budgets are decreasing than increasing in 2009. A total of 48 percent of those surveyed expect their budgets to decrease in 2009, which is up from 41 percent in 2008. In contrast, 17 percent of those surveyed expect their budgets to increase in 2009, down from 31 percent in 2008.!@!
Because training budgets are becoming more limited with the current economic situation, learning and development departments should be more aggressive in measuring ROI. However, this survey found that volume and cost metrics as well as Kirkpatrick Level 1 and II evaluations are used far more than business impact or return on investment metrics.
“We recommend that organizations make measuring the value and impact of learning a priority,” said Doug Harward, CEO of Training Industry, Inc., in a press release. “This way, training organizations can make better informed budgetary decisions about which training should be supported and which training needs to be improved.”
What is your organization doing to measure ROI? If you’re not measuring training ROI, did your budget decrease for next year? If you presented a compelling business case and illustrated the impact, did your budget stay the same or increase?
For more information on how to get through these tough economic times, read the recent “Executive Briefings” titled: “Tips for a Challenging Economic Environment.”
