Aligning Training for Results: A Process and Tools That Link Training to Business

256 Pages·2008·2.7 MB·English

by  Ron Drew Stone

ALIGNING TRAINING
FOR RESULTS
A Process and Tools That Link
Training to Business
Ron Drew Stone
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“If you follow the PAL process, you will get the desired training result! The process includes
clearly defi ned, well-structured tools that will defi nitely benefi t both training professionals and
line managers to achieve training effectiveness.”
—Han Qing, director, Siemens Management Institute
“Ron’s book is a much-needed contribution to the training profession and provides a refreshing
view of how a results-centered training process should function. His process provides the guid-
ance to initiate and sustain alignment with the business, and his tools and templates provide
the how-to.”
—Stephen M. R. Covey, best-selling author of The Speed of Trust
“At last, a book I can use as a guide to ensure that our programs are designed for business needs
and stay aligned throughout the training process to achieve business results. A great contribu-
tion to our profession and a great resource for training fellows.”
—Sunny Niu Peie, regional director, Field Force Effectiveness,
Japan/Asia, Pfi zer, Inc.
“Ron’s work is a key resource for all of us in the learning space. Two concepts in particular are
not to be missed: the Performance-Centered Framework is a great blueprint for building alignment
with business challenges and the Active Management Reinforcement connects the performer with the
manager and the work setting and the work, a perfect recipe for success.”
—Rebecca L. Ray, group head, Global Talent Management & Development,
MasterCard Worldwide
“This is a brilliant book that is packed with sage advice and instructive examples. It moves the
traditional trainer role into one of performance consultant. The author provides numerous
tools and strategies that will allow all professionals to be guided in assisting their stakeholders to
achieve transfer of skills into the workplace. A must-read for those who want to align their
learning initiatives to business outcomes.”
—Pam Poggi, vice president, Corporate Human Resources
Development, Safeway Inc.
“The demands of the 21st century Knowledge Worker era are radically different to the needs
of the Industrial Age. Yet a lot of what is being done and offered in the training industry has
just been refi ned and tweaked for the knowledge worker and we struggle therefore with per-
formance. Ron Stone has built the processes completely afresh from this new paradigm. What
is extremely refreshing are the practical applications and the perspective Ron brings from his
immense experience, which liven up what could otherwise become very dull and dreary.
The way the chapters have been organized are simply superb as they are complete in them-
selves, allowing the reader easy referability and implementation. All in all I would unhesitatingly
classify this book as a must-read not only for all in the training and learning and development
industry but for anyone who has a responsibility to drive organizational performance on a sus-
tained and consistent basis. It is outstanding in terms of its easy-to-understand language and
practicality, which from a global perspective is simply outstanding.
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Ron seems to have done the impossible in this book, which is showing us how to turn people
potential into performance. Do yourself a big favor and get yourself a copy today.”
—Rajan Kaicker, executive chairman, FranklinCoveySouthAsia
“Aligning Training for Results is an invaluable resource for professionals around the world who are
responsible for results-oriented outcomes. The tools provided are powerful and easily applica-
ble to everyday work environments. The alignment of training to organizational performance
processes is the critical element to our organization’s success! This book is fi lled with insights
and strategies that will impact our work in a profound manner.”
—Judith Cardenas, president, Lansing Community College
“This book will be an invaluable resource for training professionals and will help them address
their most serious current challenge: how to align their programs to the business. The logi-
cal and systematic solutions proposed in the book are backed up with an impressive range of
tools and techniques designed to facilitate practical implementation. Ron Stone presents us with
an exciting array of new concepts and approaches. But he isn’t just theorizing—this new think-
ing is grounded in years of practice and the sort of credibility that can only come from doing.
This book breaks new ground and will in time become an important work of reference.”
—Gerry Doyle, director, Impact Measurement Centre, Ireland
“Aligning Training for Results is more than a contribution to the fi eld of performance improve-
ment. It is the only work to date that offers the analyst an inclusive process to prepare for, con-
duct, and evaluate any performance improvement program, with the end in mind throughout.
Tools and techniques are built in to ensure that the analyst uncovers and stays securely tied to
the stakeholders’ expectations and needs.”
—Toni Hodges DeTuncq, principal, THD & Company,
author of Linking Learning and Performance
“Aligning Training for Results is an excellent resource for learning professionals who want to better
align training and performance solutions with business requirements. The book’s comprehen-
sive coverage provides practical ways you can use to meet the expectations of clients and ensure
success. A must-have for anyone interested in achieving business outcomes from training.”
—Don Kraft, director, Learning & Development, Genentech, Inc.
“The Performance Alignment and Linkage Process (PAL), a systematic process and tools, will
provide valuable information for any organization that is being faced with critical questions
from HRD programs.”
—Sunhee Yoo, general manager consulting team,
Samsung Human Resources Development Center
Seoul, South Korea
“Aligning Training for Results is a must-read book for anyone involved in training programs in govern-
ment or the corporate world. Its performance alignment and linkage process (PAL) is the answer
we’ve been looking for—how to demonstrate training’s contribution to achieving business results.”
—Coleen Hines, administrator, Performance Excellence Division,
Michigan Department of Transportation
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About This Book
Why This Topic Is Important
Although we are doing many things right, our profession and our clients are also keenly aware
that too many training programs continue to underachieve and yield disappointing results.
Ultimately, this leads to the demise of many training functions and strikes a serious blow to
the credibility of our profession. Close examination reveals that our own training processes
lack proper quality controls; they are dated in some cases, sometimes disregarded or misused,
and unresponsive to the needs and demands of the twenty-fi rst century. It is time to correct
this by reexamining and realigning our processes so that we infl uence and achieve the expect-
ed results for our clients and the organization. We must realign how we execute our training
processes, and refi ne how we engage our clients and how we target the results.
What the Reader Can Achieve with This Book
The purpose of this book is twofold. First, it offers useful processes and tools to analyze per-
formance as it relates to training and performance needs. Second, it offers a systematic meth-
odology and tools to align the training process with business requirements and consistently
achieve performance results. The methodology and tools cannot be found anywhere else. You
will learn how to use new tools and job-aids when engaging your clients and how to apply
the Performance Alignment and Linkage Process (PAL) to keep your targeted results on track.
The PAL process offers a new perspective and approach, with a strong focus on performance
readiness and achieving execution in the work setting. Quality control components are built
into the process. As you apply the process and tools, you will sharpen your consulting skills,
eliminate time wasters during needs assessment and design activities, clarify performance
execution and outcome requirements, and satisfy the needs of your client.
For updates on performance issues and additional tools and worksheets associated with
the processes in this book, visit my web site frequently at www.performanceandROI
.com. The site includes templates of the job aids presented in the book, as well as new
tools and templates, and a newsletter and is host to frequent free webinars. The site also
has a description of performance-related workshops and other services.
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ALIGNING TRAINING
FOR RESULTS
A Process and Tools That Link
Training to Business
Ron Drew Stone
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Copyright © 2009 by Ron Drew Stone. All Rights Reserved.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Stone, Ron Drew, date-
Aligning training for results : a process and tools that link training to business / Ron Drew Stone.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-470-18175-1 (cloth/website)
1. Employees—Training of. 2. Performance. 3. Needs assessment. I. Title.
HF5549.5.T7S718 2008
658.3'124—dc22
2008025948
Acquiring Editor: Matthew Davis
Production Editor: Michael Kay/Susan Geraghty
Editorial Assistant: Lindsay Morton
Manufacturing Supervisor: Becky Morgan
Printed in the United States of America
HB Printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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To my wife, Jo Ann, who reviewed much of my work
and always offers critical insight and editorial advice.
To my daughter, Ronda, who continuously provides me
with fresh insight into today’s world of work.
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Select tables, exhibits, and fi gures from Aligning Training for Results: A Process and Tools
That Link Training to Business are available free online. If you would like to download
and print out a copy of these materials, please visit: http: //Pfeiffer/go/T rainingforResults.
For additional tools, visit the author’s Web site, www. performanceandroi.com.
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