Most talent development programs drive improvement in business measures–just not necessarily all the improvement. Taking full credit for the improvement in performance measures is a bit unfair–and, quite frankly, will diminish the credibility of the results you report. That is why it is important to give credit where credit is due by taking a step to isolate the effects of your programs and projects on improvement in measures that matter.

Isolating the effects of the programs is not about isolating programs from other activities in the organization—far from it. In fact, by isolating the effects of your program, you're positioning yourself as a better business partner. Doing so enables you to explain how you know the investments in programs are driving results and help your clients allocate resources to the different programs, projects, and activities in which they invest.

During this session, you will learn three techniques to isolate the effects of talent development programs. Case studies will demonstrate each technique. Participants will calculate the improvement in business measures due to the programs described in the case studies. Remember to bring a calculator.

Objectives
After attending this session, participants should be able to:

1. Describe the importance of isolating the effects of programs
2. Apply at least three techniques to isolate the effects of programs
3. Determine when to use each of the techniques covered in this session

All registrants will receive a copy of the presentation, a handout, and a chapter from the book Value for Money: How to Show the Value for Money for All Types of Projects and Programs In: Governments, Nongovernmental Organizations, Nonprofits, and Businesses.
 

Patti P. Phillips, PhD is CEO of ROI Institute. She helps organizations implement the ROI Methodology® in more than 70 countries. Her work spans private sector, public sector, nonprofit, and nongovernmental organizations. Patti has authored and edited more than 75 books on measurement and evaluation.

Patti serves as chair of the International Federation of Training and Development Organisations Board of Trustees; chair of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research Evaluation Advisory Board; co-chair of the Institute for Corporate Productivity People Analytics Board; and board member of the American Board of Optometry. From 2018-2024, Patti served on the United Nations Institute for Training and Research Board of Trustees. During her tenure she served as board vice chair and finance committee member.  

She, along with her husband and ROI Institute co-founder Dr. Jack J. Phillips, is the recipient of the 2024 Association of Learning Providers (ISA) Thought Leader Award, 2022 Association for Talent Development (ATD) Thought Leader Award, and the 2019 Center for Talent Reporting Distinguished Contributor Award. Additionally, in 2015, Patti was honored as the ATD CPTD Fellow, a distinction that recognizes her contributions to the professionalization of the talent development field.  

Patti can be reached at patti@roiinstitute.net and https://www.linkedin.com/in/pattipphillips/