Introduction 
 
Background: For over a decade, Training Industry, Inc. has surveyed learning leaders from a variety of industries to identify the process capabilities and practices that define great training organizations. Over 2,500 learning leaders from more than 2,000 organizations across the globe have contributed their expert opinions. The current study continues this research. 
 
Purpose: To investigate the processes and practices that define great training organizations.

For the purpose of this survey, a "client" refers to an internal or external customer or consumer of training and development services.

Our Promise: As always, Training Industry, Inc. keeps individual survey data confidential. To thank you for your participation, you will receive a benchmark report, summarizing survey findings.
Training Process Capabilities

Question Title

* 1. How important is each of the following process capabilities in making a great training organization?

  Not
important
Somewhat
important
Important Critical
Reporting and Analysis (defining business metrics and reporting the data to make business improvements)
Administrative Services (scheduling, registering and maintaining technology and other support functions)
Strategic Alignment (designing learning programs that align with business objectives)
Portfolio Management (managing, rationalizing, maintaining and updating large portfolios of programs)
Technology Integration (integrating learning technologies with each other or with other corporate applications)
Diagnostics (identifying causes of problems and making recommendations)
Content Development (assessing, designing, managing and maintaining content)
Delivery (managing a network of instructors and delivering content using multiple modalities)
Training Organization Performance

This section of the survey asks that you rate your team's (internal) or vendor partner's (external) approach to specific training practices using the following scale, adapted from the Capability Maturity Model’s (CMM) Five Maturity Levels of Software Processes.


Your team's or vendor's approach to the practice is:
  • Disorganized - ad hoc, unsystematic, and not sufficiently defined and documented to allow for team repetition
  • Established - defined and documented but not always consistently applied
  • Replicable - standardized; successes can be repeated because the approach is formally integrated
  • Managed - monitored and regulated through data collection, analysis and quality control processes
  • Optimized - subject to continual improvement through the introduction of new and innovative approaches to better serve the organization's needs

Question Title

* 2. Please use the maturity scale detailed above to rate your team's or vendor partner's approach to each of the following process capabilities.

  Disorganized Established Replicable Managed Optimized N/A
Strategic Alignment (designing learning programs that align with business objectives)
Content Development (assessing, designing, managing and maintaining content)
Reporting and Analysis (defining business metrics and reporting the data to make business improvements)
Technology Integration (integrating learning technologies with each other or with other corporate applications)
Portfolio Management (managing, rationalizing, maintaining and updating large portfolios of programs)
Diagnostics (identifying causes of problems and making recommendations)
Administrative Services (scheduling, registering, and maintaining technology and other support functions)
Delivery (managing a network of instructors and delivering content using multiple modalities)

Question Title

* 3. Please use the maturity scale detailed above to rate your team's or vendor partner's approach to each of the following Diagnostics practices.

  Disorganized Established Replicable Managed Optimized N/A
Gather information to understand the environment in which training is provided (e.g., culture, norms)
Identify competency gaps
Listen to uncover real business problems and needs
Collect data using a variety of approaches (e.g., surveys, interviews, focus groups)
Recommend a variety of solutions beyond training, when relevant
Leverage experience addressing other clients' problems
Collect data from a variety of sources and levels within the organization
Conduct a systematic analysis to develop a plan
Forecast future training needs
Project budget requirements across training timeline

Question Title

* 4. Please use the maturity scale detailed above to rate your team's or vendor partner's approach to each of the following Strategic Alignment practices.

  Disorganized Established Replicable Managed Optimized N/A
Define performance success metrics
Adapt training to the organization's unique business or culture
Plan for training transfer and sustainment
Establish agreed-upon business objectives
Align training with overall talent management strategy and systems (e.g., rewards system, selection)
Develop consultative partnerships with clients
Ensure stakeholder buy-in
Customize training to meet organization's needs

Question Title

* 5. Please use the maturity scale detailed above to rate your team's or vendor partner's approach to each of the following Portfolio Management practices.

  Disorganized Established Replicable Managed Optimized N/A
Add new material and refresh older material
Use a variety of methods or tools (e.g., online, in-person, blended)
Establish specialty areas of deep subject matter expertise
Retire courses as they are no longer needed
Provide certified or accredited courses
Offer a wide range of course topics

Question Title

* 6. Please use the maturity scale detailed above to rate your team's or vendor partner's approach to each of the following Content Development practices.

  Disorganized Established Replicable Managed Optimized N/A
Involve subject matter experts or thought leaders
Use industry, company or job-relevant examples
Use blended methods to accommodate multiple learning preferences
Create easy-to-use support materials (e.g., videos, manuals)
Make course materials available to clients for future updates
Use research-based or reliable information
Include post-training activities in design (e.g., job aids, reinforcement sessions)
Include pre-training activities in design (e.g., prerequisite reading materials, preparatory exercises)
Use creativity or innovation in design (e.g., with new technologies)
Identify opportunities to repurpose content
Make training engaging and interactive (e.g., role plays)
Leverage post-training feedback to improve content
Incorporate experiential learning activities

Question Title

* 7. Please use the maturity scale detailed above to rate your team's or vendor partner's approach to each of the following Delivery practices.

  Disorganized Established Replicable Managed Optimized N/A
Scale as needs grow
Use knowledgeable or expert instructors
Present courses in different languages
Make training available at the time of learner need
Incorporate informal learning opportunities (e.g., coaching, user-generated content)
Use instructors with great facilitation and presentation skills
Make training accessible at convenient times
Make courses available using a variety of methods (e.g., instructor-led, online self-study, virtual classroom, mobile, blended)
Provide training in locations convenient for learners

Question Title

* 8. Please use the maturity scale detailed above to rate your team's or vendor partner's approach to each of the following Technology Integration practices.

  Disorganized Established Replicable Managed Optimized N/A
Interface with corporate-wide systems (e.g., HR, procurement and/or performance management systems)
Communicate with IT staff
Use different types of learning technologies (e.g., administrative, authoring and delivery)
Update integration as new technologies emerge
Enable content to work with multiple learning technologies
Use consultative skills to develop an integration plan

Question Title

* 9. Please use the maturity scale detailed above to rate your team's or vendor partner's approach to each of the following Administrative Services practices.

  Disorganized Established Replicable Managed Optimized N/A
Track badging (e.g., certification expiration, compliance)
Schedule instructors, course materials and facilities
Track individual skills, competencies and development plans
Register learners into courses
Track course completions
Track and reimburse tuition expenses
Manage other vendors or outsource processes
Track test results or other learning outcomes

Question Title

* 10. Please use the maturity scale detailed above to rate your team's or vendor partner's approach to each of the following Reporting and Analysis practices.

  Disorganized Established Replicable Managed Optimized N/A
Manage data from multiple sources
Assess or measure business outcomes
Develop meaningful dashboards or reports
Assess or measure application or use on the job
Establish a data evaluation plan
Collect course feedback from learners, managers, instructors and other relevant parties
Assess or measure learning outcomes
Collect cost data (direct and indirect)
Demographics

Question Title

* 11. Which of the following best describes the structure of your training organization?

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* 12. Has your organization undergone a merger or aquisition in the last three years?

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* 13. For which group does the training organization you represent provide the vast majority of your learning services?

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* 14. For which of the following services does your organization currently use external resources? Select all that apply.

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* 15. Please estimate the number of learners supported by your training organization. If you are unsure, please leave this answer blank.

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* 16. Please estimate the number of L&D professionals employed by your organization. If you are unsure please leave this answer blank. 

Question Title

* 17. Please rate you agreement with the following statements regarding the executive leadership at your organization:

  Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly agree
My executive leadership understands the value of learning and development.
My executive leadership sees learning and development as a "necessary evil."
My executive leadership is willing to invest resources into learning and development initiatives.
I have the budget I need to accomplish necessary learning and development initiatives.

Question Title

* 18. When compared to the last five years, how would you rate your company's current performance?

  All-time low Worse Same Better All-time high  N/A
Revenue growth
Market share
Profitability
Sales target/quota attainment
Customer satisfaction
Employee satisfaction

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* 19. In your estimation, what percentage of your 2018 training budget was spent on external training services (i.e., vendors)? Please enter a whole number between 0 and 100. If you are unsure, please leave this answer blank.

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* 22. Please complete the following if you would like us to receive an executive summary of the results at the conclusion of this project. Training Industry, Inc. keeps this information strictly confidential.

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