Abstract
Research Aim & Methodology Why am I concerned? This is a work-based and work-focused PhD, conducted in the Human Resources/Learning and Development Department of an Energy and Utilities Company, based in Dublin, Ireland. My action research evaluates and reflects on how the approach to training was introduced in the organisation, how well it worked and how it was improved over time. The basis of evaluating the training process is to develop a generic framework that could be used by others, both elsewhere in Veolia and beyond.
Context The effectiveness of human resource development (HRD) programs is vital to the overall success of any organisation. However, current methods of evaluation have not been effective given the scale of the annual cost involved. As part of the organisations Continual Professional Development (CPD), the organisation recognised the need for a formalized approach that will impact on the quality, effectiveness and organisational development of its workforce.
The focus of this research is to implement a comprehensive evaluation framework for training initiatives; evaluation should be enhanced to include detailed feedback from the trainees. The purpose is to determine the effectiveness of the learning programmes; to allow the organisation ensure learning is transferrable to the workplace.