We all need to gain a sustainable and competitive advantage in every level of our organization, from people to business strategy. This means that someone else’s best practice may not be the best fit for you. Wegmans Food Market Inc is a great example of a company that has responded to its low-margin, highly competitive industry by finding a unique best practice. They recognized a need for exceptional customer service that they achieved through high employee satisfaction levels, and a culture of responsibility and community service. Such strategic HRM practices ranked Wegmans in Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” in 2005. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘ strategy ’
So I’ve Failed Already, Now What?
Posted by: Amy on October 15, 2011
Over the past few weeks we’ve talked about the 11 reasons training programs fail. While its great to have that knowledge for the future, you may have already blown it. In hindsight it all seems so clear, and you failed because of reasons 3, 7 and 9. It was a huge, mega-failure! Now what?
In Harvard Business Review, former Procter & Gamble CEO A.G. Lafley offers some keen insight into his failures and how to learn from them. Of course he claims that his failures are all part of his growth and development, and that we have to move past the emotional pain and blame and figure out the what and the why of the failure. And naturally he tells us we have to decide what we have learned and what we are going to do differently next time.
But don’t we kind of get that already? I want to know exactly what I need to do the next time – how do I translate that learning into action, how do I decide what I’ve learned and what to do differently? I need a process! (more…)
The Finish Line is in Sight!
Posted by: Elizabeth on April 19, 2011
We have completed the program evaluation cycle. Now it’s time to use your evaluation results to inform your strategic management process. You didn’t complete all of this work to simply hang a pretty logic model of your program or admire your brilliantly devised outcomes. Rather, evaluation is intended for action.
It is time for an action plan: (more…)
Crunch Time!
Posted by: Elizabeth on April 7, 2011
Review and Analyze Your Data
The purpose of collecting data is to answer the original evaluation questions. Take time now to revisit those questions before conducting your analysis. You will need these questions in mind as you are looking to evaluate and interpret your data.
For quantitative data you will need to perform various statistical calculations (more…)
How Resourceful are your Resources?
Posted by: Elizabeth on March 29, 2011
I imagine that the data collection we discussed in our last blog took quite a bit of time and effort. The data collection process is lengthy but pays off in the end with careful pre-planning and effective analysis and use of that data. Please feel free to call us if you get stuck! We will press on today and identify the relationship between the things you want to do and the resources required to do them.
Refer back to the gap analysis you conducted. Does your organization have access to the resources you plan to use and can it support the program activities you plan to implement? Consider the following questions: (more…)
5…4…3…2…1…LAUNCH!
Posted by: Elizabeth on March 24, 2011
Finally we are ready to launch your evaluation! Of course, no one launches without gathering a significant amount of data – do we have all the astronauts, what is the weather report, do we have enough fuel, etc. We will now develop a data collection and management plan for your program beginning with this pre-launch sequence: (more…)
“Cheshire Puss…Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
Posted by: Elizabeth on March 22, 2011
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.
“I don’t much care where–” said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
“Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll
Let’s find out where we are going and identify the purpose of your evaluation. (more…)
“Let’s Start at the Very Beginning, a Very Good Place to Start” Julie Andrews, The Sound of Music
Posted by: Elizabeth on March 16, 2011
In the previous blog we defined evaluation as having 3 components with the first being an in-depth look at a program based on focused evaluation questions. This second component answers those questions by collecting data using specific and carefully chosen methods such as surveys/questionnaires, checklists, document reviews, case studies or focus groups. The third component provides tools to manage the program, identify performance gaps, develop implementation plans and create stakeholder feedback reports.
While evaluation does contain specific steps, it is neither prescriptive nor linear. Rather, it is a cyclical, ongoing process that is focused on continuous quality improvement. The following are the steps we will share in forthcoming blogs to create (more…)
How are we doing? What can we improve? What impact are we having on our community?
Posted by: Elizabeth on March 10, 2011
Successful organizations must periodically evaluate their performance. Needs and resources change, and stakeholders are more motivated to fund programs that show a track record of success. Program evaluation is a data-driven process that holistically leverages the planning, processes, people, and performance in your organization to deliver high value services. (more…)
Can You Hear Me Now?
Posted by: Elizabeth on January 13, 2011
Evaluating communication is notoriously difficult; however, it is critical to ensure that the strategy has achieved its aim and that constant improvements are being made. (more…)
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