Training and Development: Best Practices

Abstract

The IPMA HR Benchmarking Committee has identified a series of successful approaches—“best practices”—in key human resource areas from the 2001–2002 HR Benchmarking Survey. The primary purpose of the benchmarking project is to provide human resource practitioners with tools, models, skills, methods, and data to improve the effectiveness of their human resource programs for their customers. The main goal of the benchmarking project is to: identify, measure, and share the best practices of leading HR organizations so that others can compare their practices to these HR organizations and identify opportunities to improve their own organizations. Rarely can a program or solution seamlessly transfer to every other organization, but the IPMA HR Benchmarking Committee will feature successful models for HR professionals to review and determine whether they may adopt or adapt the practice—or elements of the practice—in their own organizations. In conjunction with IPMA's available benchmarking data, the HR Benchmarking Committee will use the following criteria to determine which agencies have “potential” best practices. Training and Development was one of the “best practice” program areas identified. Linda Bjornberg, a member of the Benchmarking Committee, discusses the innovative and successful efforts of the selected HR organizations in measuring the impact of training on their organizations' missions. Successful over time Quantitative and/or qualitative results Recognized or recognizable positive outcomes — customer satisfaction — positive impact Innovative Replicable — transferable with modifications — portable — adds value by improving service, quality and/or productivity Meaningful to Users of the Benchmarking Site