Training Ain’t Performance
Article

Training Ain’t Performance

Interview with Harold Stolovitch and Erica Keeps

George Hall, Harold D. Stolovitch and Erica J. Keeps
ASTD Publications, 2004
Read the article

Read or listen offline

Amazon Kindle
  • 0.5×
  • 0.75×
  • 1×
  • 1.25×
  • 1.5×
  • 1.75×
1×

Editorial Rating

8

getAbstract Rating

  • Applicable
  • Overview
  • Engaging

Recommendation

Why does traditional training often fail to deliver real business impact? Performance improvement experts Harold Stolovitch and Erica Keeps reveal how organizations can bridge the gap between training efforts and results. In this interview, they emphasize the need for ROI-driven strategies that align training with organizational goals. They advocate for a cause-conscious approach: identifying root performance issues before implementing tailored interventions. By embracing collaboration and systemic thinking, Stolovitch and Keeps demonstrate how to create sustainable performance improvements.

Summary

Training often fails to deliver long-term ROI.

People are often unclear on the kind of training that yields the desired performance outcomes or how to measure whether training actually supports a business’s bottom line. Commonly used metrics like attendance or hours of instruction merely reflect activity — not effectiveness. The divide between training and outcomes compounds when L&D professionals fail to educate management on how performance interventions can directly influence business success.

Training professionals must shift their focus from activity-based metrics to ROI-driven strategies. By conducting formal ROI (return on investment) analyses before and after interventions, they can demonstrate clear value to stakeholders. For instance, connecting a sales training program to ...

About the Authors

Erica J. Keeps and Harold Stolovitch are principals of HSA Learning & Performance Solutions LLC (HSA). Interviewer George Hall teaches in the College of Business Administration at the University of Central Florida.

Comment on this summary