Closing the loop on employee training

World class enterprises have placed a premium on employee training but often have difficulty in confirming the success of that training. An employee's improved performance is the ultimate measure of success, but frequently it is desirable to have feedback on the training session before the employee begins work with his or her new skills. Assessment instruments that accurately reflect the training activities and their learning objectives can be useful to both the trainee and the trainer. Types of instruments that might be useful for measuring success are discussed, processes for developing appropriate assessment instruments are described, and some of the hazards associated with testing in the workplace are provided.