Companies understand the importance of training and educating their employees, as evidenced by the sharp increase in the amount spent on training. In 2017, overall training expenditures by US companies increased by more than 33%. But companies have to ask themselves if that training is effective - and if not, what can be done?

So, how do you determine if training is effective? 

The first step is to set goals for the training. 

It's impossible to know if training is effective if you don't know what outcome you want.The goals should align with the learning objectives of the training, and if they don't, you're already looking at a problematic training program. The goals should be quantifiable, though qualifiable goals can be included if desired. 

By setting specific goals for training, you'll be able to accurately evaluate the results of step two. 

The second step is to ask employees directly.

By using post-training quizzes and surveys, you can collect data on a global scale. This makes it easier to analyze data and quantify the ROI of the investment, as well as see which employees appreciate or enjoy the training the most. 

To find out more specifics, one-to-one discussions or participant case studies are the way to go. You can get in-depth answers on what the employee thought of the training, how the training actually impacted their productivity, and if the employee felt the training was worth it. Case studies are also a wonderful way to show real world examples of why training matters. 

The third step is to evaluate.

Once you've analyzed the data, gone through one-on-one discussions or prepared case studies, you should have a good understanding of how effective your current training offerings are. Now you need to determine if the current training is meeting expectations, or if it's time to re-evaluate your offerings. 

If your training is effective, then by all means, keep doing what you're doing. But if it's not, it's time to consider your options. If your company has traditionally offered week long trainings off-site, consider moving training on-site, or even online. Many employees learn better when they are able to break up the training and work it in around their schedules. If your company currently offers online training, perhaps the current platform isn't working - or maybe the training itself is the problem. Finding the right training program takes time and a bit of trial and error, but with so much riding on their success it is necessary.