A Shift from Training to Performance
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius --
and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction."- Albert Einstein
Presented for Dr. Jim MarshallByBrett Powell & Karl RichterEDTEC 685 12/06/05
The Scenario
• “We have 180 learning professionals across the globe. Mostly, they deliver and coordinate training. Frankly, that's not good enough. Our internal clients wonder if what we do is making much difference. I wonder too. Mostly, we do habitual dippings. That's why I contacted you.“
• How do you recommend that we move people from training to performance? I believe that will be best for our internal clients, our external customers, and our organization.“
Does Training Make a Difference?
Kirkpatrick’s 4 Levels of Evaluation
ResultsTransferLearningReactions
A Shift to Performance is a Shift in Thinking
The Role of TrainingActivity based Approach
• No business need• No assessment of
Performance Issues• No specific,
measurable objectives• No efforts to build
partnerships with stakeholders
• No measurement of results, cost benefit analysis
The Role of PerformanceResults based Approach
• Linked to a specific business need
• Assessment of performance effectiveness
• Specific Application and Impact objectives
• Partnerships with stakeholders
• Measurement of results (ROI)
Different Models of Performance
• The Organizational Effectiveness model
• Performance Architecture• Integrated Performance Strategies
Performance Consulting is a systematic process of:
• Assessing needs• Analysing problems• Recommending solutions• Developing and implementing solutions• Evaluating worth
A Common Approach to Performance Consulting
“4” phases of Human Performance Improvement (HPI): • Partnering• Assessment• Intervention (Selection and
Implementation)• Evaluation
Partnering
Learning Professionals must become “Performance Consultants” by developing long-term relationships with clients based on the client’s training and performance needs.
• Consider institutional contexts such as the mission, goals, strategies, and corporate culture of the client
• Partner with clients to identify problems and opportunities related to human performance
• Identify training needs linked to performance gaps• Set project goals • Identify roles and responsibilities
• Define what "success" will look like for this project
Assessment
As a “Performance Consultant,” LPs collect data on the current and desired state of performance and the cause of any performance gaps • Establish desired Performance goals that can be
measured• Decide on the type and level of performance needed• Determine potential obstacles to attaining desired
performance• Analyze performance gaps and their root causes
especially when current performance is below expectations
Intervention (Selection)
LP’s must design and develop interventions agreed upon in the
assessment phase. A “Performance Consultant” should identify
the best solutions that can be used to remove or overcome the
gap between the desired and the actual state of performance.
• Select and design an appropriate intervention, based on assessment data, to resolve the performance problem
• Intervention may be learning-based on non learning-based
Interventions could include:• Learning, tutorial, training interventions (competency
based training)• Consultative interventions (strategic planning)• Techno-structural interventions (work space redesign,
systems upgrades)• Process or systems interventions (job design, incentive
programs)
Intervention (Implementation)Factors that affect the implementation include:• Life Cycle ~ An organization’s development stage at the
time the intervention is proposed. Is the organization in the right cycle to accept the change?
• Culture ~ Refers to organizational culture. At times we need to destroy old cultures and build new ones. Is the intervention and the organizational culture in sync?
• Strategic Plan ~ All interventions should align and support. • External Conditions ~ Identify all the environmental factors
that could impede on the implementation process.
5 Keys to implementation• Traditional routines are put aside• Old habits must be broken• New equipment is delivered• New forms or worksheets are used• A new aspect of performance must be learned observed and
rewarded
Evaluation
• “Assess the success” of the intervention in attaining your goals, have you closed the gap?
• Goals may include performance improvement goals as well as broader business goals
• Provide feedback for continued change
The HPI Model
MAINTAIN STAKEHOLDER PARTNERSHIP
CONSIDER INSTITUTIONAL
CONTEXT
MISSION
GOALS
STRATEGIES
CULTURE
DESCRIBE ACTUAL
PERFORMANCE
DEFINE DESIRED
PERFORMANCE
FIND ROOT CAUSES
Why does the performance
gap exist?
SELECT INTERVENTIONSWhat can be done
to close the performance gap?
EVALUATE PERFORMANCE
GAPGAPIMPLEMENT
INTERVENTIONS
Will you be ready?
The Deadly Sins of Performance Consulting
• The Lone Ranger Syndrome – do not take on an assignment by yourself
• A Rush to Judgment – do not act before you know what the problem is (analysis)
• The Tower of Babel – do not use jargon that doesn’t connect with your client
• One Size Fits All – use a model as a starting point, but do not get stuck to it
• No One’s Listening – not everyone shares your enthusiasm, build credibility
• Prove Them Wrong – be more proactive and ask the right questions, do not argue
Performance on the Web
Friday5s - IFollowThrough.com• Six Sigma and HPThttp://www.ispi.org/http://www.astd.org/astd
Published LiteratureMoving from Training to Performance: A Practical GuidebookPerformance Consulting: Moving Beyond Training Human Performance Improvement: Building Practitioner CompetenceHPI Essentials: A Just-The-Facts, Bottom-Line Primer on Human Performance ImprovementTraining Ain't Performance
Vendors
• http://www.ptrain.com/consulting/• http://www.pci-solutions.com/• http://learningsource.od.nih.gov/
perform.html• http://www.millerconsultants.com/
References
• www1.astd.org/astdInterim0304/pdf/handouts/TU106.pdf
• http://www.bpminstitute.org/articles/article/article/understanding-your-company-s-performance-architecture/news-browse/1.html
• www.astd.co.za/workshops/junejuly2003/ ASTD
• http://www.astd.org/astd• http://www.ispi.org/• http://www.ptrain.com/consulting/• http://www.reproline.jhu.edu/english