The value of learning: from return on investment to return on expectation

How can you measure the strategic value of learning, and why are traditional evaluation methods no longer enough? How do key stakeholders expect learning to add value? What factors affect how it's valued? And how do you ensure that investment in learning is linked to strategic priorities? As learning is now a strategic issue for organisations, a new approach to assessing and demonstrating its contribution is required. Based on research undertaken by the University of Portsmouth on behalf of the CIPD, this report explores how 12 organisations are measuring and reporting on the contribution of learning to strategic value. It draws on interviews with senior learning, training and development professionals and operational managers. Additional insights are gained from a discussion thread and the results of two online polls. The report recognises that all organisations are different and offers a model to help you develop an approach to match your particular circumstances. It highlights the need for both qualitative and hard metrics, and the shift from measures of return on investment to return on expectation. Benefits for you: - Access to a new model of value and evaluation of learning - Insights into the different perspectives of operational and learning professionals - Illustrations of the experiences of case study organisations - Examples of the types of measure that can be used