Research

In partnership with training companies who are thought leaders on popular training topics, Training Industry brings you complimentary reports with analysis, charts and key findings. Each report captures the collective wisdom of learning professionals, revealing fresh data on trends and practices in the evolving training market. 

• Measuring The Impact of Training: A Focus on Sales Readiness

  

  by Capital Analytics, Inc., Bellevue University’s Human Capital Lab and Training Industry, Inc.

  Being able to measure the impact of training is the Holy Grail of learning organizations. Since sales outcomes are easier to measure than other learning outcomes, this study focused on the measurement practices, tools and confidence of those involved in determining the impact of sales readiness initiatives. It revealed that many respondents lack confidence in their ability to attribute sales outcomes to specific initiatives. From this study, those who want to improve their ability to measure impact can learn: 1) which measurement techniques and information tools are used by more of those who are confident in determining impact; 2) which tools are considered most useful in determining impact; and 3) which sales readiness initiatives are expected to have the greatest impact on sales and which are measured best.

  

• Best Practices in Working with Learning Service Providers

  

  by General Physics Corporation (GP) and Training Industry, Inc.

  At a time when learning leaders can least afford the cost of misalignment, a recent study reveals that less than half feel that their learning service providers are strongly aligned with them. This study unlocks keys to keeping providers aligned and performing well, including: 1) What practices are most used by companies who have strong alignment? 2)  How often should providers and clients communicate to maintain alignment? 3) What’s the number one reason why learning engagements are terminated?  4) What types of metrics are most important in ensuring alignment? 5) What contract elements make a difference in provider performance?
  

• Managing Your Organization's Talent

  

  by Convergys and Training Industry, Inc.

  In good economic times or bad, one factor remains the same: a company’s greatest asset is its people. A recent study found that most respondents believe that their organization’s are at risk due to ineffective or immature talent management processes.  This perceived level of risk is not surprising given three other study findings: 1) a lack of strong strategic focus, 2) the spotty use of competency models, and 3) a lack of integration between key processes.This report also provides fresh data on the state of talent management today including:  Which areas are at greatest risk and have the greatest potential to improve performance, how well- integrated talent management processes are with each other, and how talent management is supported organizationally, including L&D’s role.

  

• Survey Results for Measuring Learning as Budgets Tighten

  

  by Expertus and Training Industry, Inc.

  As training budgets become more limited in today’s challenging economy, it is increasingly important to demonstrate the impact of training funds through effective metrics. But a recent thought leadership study of 84 corporate training professionals revealed that volume and cost metrics are still used far more than business impact or return on investment metrics to influence budget decisions. In addition to showing which types of metrics are most frequently collected and used to support budget decisions, this complimentary research report also provides fresh data on:How much training budgets are decreasing and cost reduction pressure is increasing, major challenges of learning measurement, types of decisions that are well-supported by learning metrics & reporting capabilities.
  

• 2008-09 Training Efficiency Master Series

  

  by Expertus and Training Industry, Inc.

  This compendium report includes an executive summary and six studies in one integrated document. These studies, which are also listed separately on this page, help learning leaders increase their efficiency and impact by answering these questions:

  • Optimizing Costs: How are learning leaders cutting administration and other costs and where are they investing?
  • Optimizing Learning Technology: What are the impacts of LMS’ and which practices optimize them?
  • Optimizing Customer Training: What are the main benefits of customer training and how is it offered?
  • Measuring Learning as Budgets Tighten: Which metrics are collected and used for what purposes?
  • Internal Marketing: Which marketing strategies are most effective?
  • Learning Portals & Informal Learning Technologies: What are the benefits of learning portals and how and why are training organizations using informal learning tools?
  

• Survey Results for Optimizing Customer Training: Growth, Impact and Tools

  

  by Expertus and Training Industry, Inc.

  Is your company’s customer training for products undervalued or underfunded? This report highlights the value of customer training -- both in the benefits that companies get from customer training and their expectations for growth in 2009 customer training budgets. Readers can use these findings to compare their customer training results and processes to those of survey respondents, including the benefits of customer training and how it is offered, marketed, delivered and supported.
  

• Survey Results for Training Efficiency: Optimizing Costs

  

  by Expertus and Training Industry, Inc.

  Do you know which areas of your training budget are least efficient and where you will cut costs? The research describes the level and types of pressure training managers are under to reduce costs. The report also rates which of four major budget areas – Content Development, Delivery, Technology and Administration – are least efficient and which actions respondents are most likely to take to cut costs in those areas in 2008.  Also learn how respondents would reinvest their cost savings and how they measure efficiency.
  

• Survey Results for The Role of Training in Continuous Improvement Initiatives

  

  by TBM LeanSigma Institute and Training Industry, Inc.

  How much does the training function’s involvement matter in senior managers’ satisfaction with continuous improvement initiatives such as Total Quality Management, Lean, Six Sigma, and Business Process Reengineering? This report answers this question and as well as which types of training involvement matter most. Also get respondents’ recommendations for improving the training for these initiatives through better leadership, content development and delivery.
  

• Survey Results for Training Efficiency: Optimizing Learning Technology

  

  by Expertus and Training Industry, Inc.

  What impacts LMS efficiency outcomes such as compliance readiness, ease in finding and registering for courses and reduced administration costs? This study identifies which LMS functionalities have the greatest impact on efficiency, as well as which best practices and amount of implementation time are associated with efficiency gains. This report can be used to help companies identify how to get the most from their LMS and the most common LMS challenges they may need to overcome.
  

• Internal Marketing For Corporate Training Departments

  

  by Expertus

  Running training like a business implies marketing training like a business. But a recent study of 75 training leaders reports that a minority of corporate training departments have written or formal marketing plans, budgets or promotions that go beyond general awareness of their courses. This study reveals what those with more sophisticated marketing do to target their audience and measure their reach, and which marketing activities they find to be most effective and favorably-received by employees.