Demonstrating Return on Investment (ROI) and Return on Expectation (ROE)

CLD’s mission is to create visionary leaders that transform government, and we take it very seriously. We pride ourselves on creating quality leadership programs that are timely, relevant, effective, and transformative; and we can demonstrate those results through our rigorous evaluation program.

We understand that sending people to leadership training is a significant investment of time and resources. Agencies need to know that their employees receive more than just a good experience. They want their employees to come back with increased knowledge and enhanced skills that they can apply back on the job.

Multi-Pronged Approach to Course Evaluations

The goal of CLD’s evaluation program is to create a compelling chain of evidence which demonstrates that our courses add value to participant’s organizations in terms of productivity, quality of work, working relationships, increase in leadership competencies and mission results.

Post-course and Follow-up Evaluations

CLD uses one of the market-leading education evaluation and analytics systems to conduct and report on post-event and follow-up surveys. The software fully automates learning evaluation levels 1 – 5 against a comprehensive set of learning effectiveness benchmarks.

CLD’s courses routinely meet or exceed industry benchmarks at all levels to demonstrate return on investment and return on expectation.

Capstone Papers

OPM’s LEAD Certificate program provides a clear path to leadership education at five distinct leadership levels. At each level of LEAD, current and future leaders take five courses and assess their leadership effectiveness, gain core knowledge and develop critical skills for leadership success. As part of the LEAD Certificate program, participants are required to write a capstone paper that documents course content highlights, lessons learned, and application on the job. Included in the paper are behavioral changes the participant made to impact their leadership style and professional effectiveness; actions they have taken as a result of the learning; and the impact on themselves and their agency. LEAD capstone papers are reviewed by OPM senior program staff for clear and comprehensive articulation of the lessons learned, actions taken, and overall impact of the experience.

"I had been the course designer in my agency for 10 years, and leadership is a really big component of that curriculum. However, it doesn’t touch on the actual tools that I saw and used in these 6 classes."

"The series of leadership courses I have completed [with CLD] have tremendously improved my supervisory skills. I have become proficient with conflict management, developing others, and team ."

"The courses I have completed while in the LEAD program have greatly influenced my ability to lead my organization through the dual crises of FY13’s budgetary turmoil and FY14’s consolidation of operating units."

"The courses in this program were very timely and helped me to change my way of thinking and communicating. The coursework taught me how to become a strategic thinker and to communicate with a focus on outcomes and impact. This allowed me to submit my budget and obtain approval in an environment where money was scarce."

"I use project management skills in my daily actions to include creating and ensuring timelines on projects are met and managed accurately, and engaging a group of employees not assigned to me on projects to complete goals by the deadlines given."

Looking Beyond the Classroom Experience

CLD partnered with the Kirkpatrick Partners, founders of the four level training evaluation model and New World Kirkpatrick model, and PTG International, a business dedicated to supporting technologies to measure and analyze the impact of training on business and government outcomes. Together we created an evaluation program that demonstrates results beyond the classroom experience to transfer of learning, behavior change, and business results.

Demonstrating Results for Your Agency’s Investment in Leadership Education

We recognize that federal agencies have to demonstrate results for their investments in leadership education. Our courses have proven results at all learning levels. We also know that ROI and ROE increase when supervisors meet with employees prior to training to discuss related expectations and desired outcomes. Contact us at register@opm.gov to find out more about our evaluation program and steps you can take to increase your return on investment.