Planning Ahead to Demonstrate ROI

At this stage of your needs analysis, it may be premature to attempt to prove ROI (return-on-investment) on your initial workshop offerings. Nevertheless, it is never too early to start thinking about the kinds of measures that might apply when it comes time to evaluate your rollout of project management training. During your needs analysis, begin asking those you interview about the ways they would measure success of the training.

What kinds of savings might result from staff with improved project management skills and knowledge?
Are there historical or current project data providing measurements that might be used as benchmarks?
Are there ways of capturing data after the training is completed so that your organization can continue with the comparison?
What would those you consult consider respectable improvement levels?

Obtaining as many ideas as you can will help you demonstrate the value of the training. The outset of your training effort may not be the time to attempt using financial models, but the ideas you pick up at this stage can help later when it ‚ s time to do so.