Category 1: Training Provider Qualifications
The benefits you receive from your investment in on-site training, begins with the proper selection of the company which will deliver the program. The quality of the information you receive in the seminar will only be as valuable as the quality of resources the training company invested in the development of the seminar. Just because a training organization is big, has lots of sales people, and has a very glossy presentation, does not ensure quality of materials presented. In many cases, it is just the opposite.
There are several pit-falls to avoid when choosing a training provider.
Here are a few Words to the Wise:
First, Bigger is Not Always Better. Large training companies and membership-based management associations that "also" provide seminars and conferences, are often loaded with multiple layers of management, multiple review stages, and are at the mercy of marketing restrictions, requirements, and making management more focused on their bonus rather than your education. In these types of organizations, developing new programs can take as long as 30 months from conception to completion. Smaller training firms, have the flexibility to respond quickly to the rapidly-changing educational requirements of today's professional. You need information that is current, reflects best practices and is directly related to the challenges you are facing TODAY. Look for training firms who specialize in both training AND consulting services. They have to stay current with the times to remain competitive and frequently offer current "Best-Practices" in a real-life scenario.
Second, Customization Should be the Standard. Today, seminar customization should be the norm, not the exception. Through the use of modern technology, every seminar can be "custom-tailored" to both the needs of the professionals participating in the program and the environment in which the organization operates. A program developed for a manufacturing environment provides little value to a provider of health care. Look for firms that will customize your on-site training program for no additional cost.
Third, You Get What THEY Pay For. Large training organizations are saddled with large buckets of overhead costs, which drains resources received from seminar fees away from development investments and toward administrative salaries and overhead. As a result, and in order to meet their bonus "bogies," they focus on keeping expense low. This means that you get an instructor that may not be leading edge, just inexpensive. Many training organizations often will not pay for course leader travel expenses, opting for using an instructor who is local. This often results in a course leader who may not offer best-practices information and be a recognized leader in the field or discipline being presented. This leaders are chosen just because they are "local," and the large training company does not have to pay travel expenses. You wind up paying for inferior training. Where is the value?
Fourth, Do They Practice What You Preach? Most large training companies and membership-based management associations do not also provide professional consulting services, so they often do not "do what they preach." Smaller consultancy firms who also provide professional development programs ensure that the person presenting the seminar also posses the "best-practices" knowledge base. This ensures that the program leader reflects well on the firm's reputation. Since small firms are only as good as their last client, they invest a significant portions of tier resources in the products and services they provide.
By using the following criteria for evaluating potential training providers, you can enhance the probability of selecting the right training provider.
How to Score: Each of the categories below has a suggested rating system based on questions or criteria. Add up the suggested ratings for each question to determine the "Final Rating". In some cases, a table is provided to help determine the category rating for that category. For others, simply add the rating numbers offered within the category. Place that number in the form. Of course, you may use your own rating system.
1. Does the On-Site Provider Demonstrate a Commitment to Providing "Best-Practices" Materials?
How timely and current are the program materials? Ask the training provider the questions below:
| Final Rating | Category Rating |
|---|---|
25 |
5 |
20 - 24 |
4 |
15 - 19 |
3 |
10 - 14 |
2 |
5 - 9 |
1 |
2. Does the On-Site Provider offer "World-Class" Seminar Leaders
The best course material in to world will provide no value to your on-site group unless the seminar leader has the demonstrated ability to convey the message to your employees in an effective manner. The seminar leader who will lead your program will make or brake your total learning experience. There are many "qualified" professionals who know the material, but if they can not transfer that knowledge to the participants, you have wasted your organizational resources. Not only did the seminar leader fail to achieve the stated objectives of the program participants, your organization has consumed untold resources in lost productivity, creature comforts, A/V costs, real costs, and you are no better off that before the program. If the program leader assigned to your program does not have the necessary talents to transfer the knowledge and skills to the participants, you end up with a great three day party. Look for professionals who developed the materials. Look for professionals who have more than 10 years of professional development platform experience. Look for professionals who have a 3.8 track record on a 4.0 scale. Buy excellence up front, in is the greatest value.
One last word: most training firms are run by an experienced seminar leader. That doesn't mean the you will get that leader in your program. Make sure you know who will be running your seminar.
When selecting an organization to meet your professional development needs, consider the following:
| Final Rating | Category Rating |
|---|---|
16 - 20 |
5 |
12 - 15 |
4 |
8 - 11 |
3 |
4 - 7 |
2 |
< 4 |
1 |
3. Does the On-Site Provider Maximize the Use of Technology Where Applicable
Talking about state of the art tools, and incorporating them into the on-site program for which you are contracting are two very different issues. Participants that actually have the opportunity to employ tools in a "Hands-On" environment gain more than 50% more from a seminar than participants that simply view a "demonstration" of the tools. The use of current, state of the art technology as part of the learning experience significantly enhances the transfer of knowledge in the adult learning environment. Ask the provider of the on-site training the following questions:
4. No Fee, No Hassle Customization of On-Site Materials
As stated above, the customization of on-site program materials should be the standard, not the exception. Moreover, leading-edge training providers view the customization of existing generic materials to the specific needs of the on-site client as "Part of the Job!" Today, seminar customization should be the norm, not the exception. Through the use of modern technology, every seminar can be "custom-tailored" to the both the needs of the professionals participating in the program and the environment in which the organization operates. A program developed for a manufacturing environment provides little value to a provider of health care. Look for firms that will customize your on-site training program for no additional cost.
When evaluating the on-site training provider, consider the following:
| Final Rating | Category Rating |
|---|---|
25 |
5 |
20 - 24 |
4 |
15 - 19 |
3 |
10 - 14 |
2 |
5 - 9 |
1 |
5. Is the Seminar Company Committed to Your Strategic Goals, Long-Term?
| Final Rating | Category Rating |
|---|---|
25 |
5 |
20 - 24 |
4 |
15 - 19 |
3 |
10 - 14 |
2 |
5 - 9 |
1 |