V-Model for Business Alignment

Dear Colleagues                                                               (time to read the blog - 3 Minutes)

Another ROI Impact study completed and it dawns on me that in spite of so much investment in the training domain, we still miss the business alignment.

Reasons for business alignment gap

Ø  The need to do business alignment – The HR do not feel the need to do business alignment. They drive the training and hope and assume that this training would be successful. HR is happy with a good score on the reaction questionnaire. So what next?

Ø  Lack of awareness – Many are not aware that training itself can be business aligned and that it can give business results. Though things are changing with constant scrutiny on the HR department, data and results are yet to be seen.

Ø  Last minute demand – Many companies set their yearly calendar, yet there are last minute training demands. So where does business alignment fit in? What follows is

• Finding vendor/ trainer
• Venue
• Nominating participants

And again what we have is training with WOW effect and no ROI. This reminds me of fast food- burgers and pizzas that gives us the wow effect that we enjoy and bear the cost with no health benefits.

One such tool used to develop business alignment is the V-Model  as given in the Phillips ROI Methodology. The major advantage of the V-model is to set-up and design the training to align to the measures that need improvement. Business alignment is the process to ensure that any training drive business results. To achieve this, the training can be positioned for success, and then evaluated accordingly.

The three phases of the V-Model are

•            Needs assessment
•            Development of training objectives
•       Training evaluation

The V-model describes the levels of evaluation. V-model is a vital step for need analysis as this gives critical linkages between the needs, objectives and the evaluation. The V-model details the needs at the five levels, beginning with pay off needs and progressing to preference needs. The objectives can be derived directly from the needs identified. For every specific need, multiple objectives can be developed. Below is a suggested example of V-Model

Please feel free to share training and business alignment for the programs you do.

With Gratitude

Dr. Sonali Wagle