HDR-W3

PEER RESPONSES:

Week 3 - Discussion 1

Kirkpatrick's Taxonomy

Nicole Brown 

Kirkpatrick’s Taxonomy is a four level method for evaluating the training process and its effect on individuals trained and the organization. (Kopp, 2014)  The first two steps in the process are to obtain feedback from the trainees to see how they personally felt about the training held, assessing its value as a whole to support continued success for future trainees and to test, through multiple means, the degree of learning from the training.  Level three and four is how the training is utilized for daily business and finally how it impacts the organization as a whole. 

This evaluation method can be applied in my organization and is very similar to how the Army conducts its after action reviews.  Following all training there is an open forum where individuals in the training can express how well they did or didn’t like the training conducted.  They also have the opportunity to suggest ways to improve the training in the future.  The intent of the training is to be able to evaluate how well performance or production has improved since the training in order to meet the organizations goals.

Bates (2004) states that the method is oversimplified in order to determine if the training is truly effective based on research that concluded that there are too many differing factors between individual, organizational, and training factors.  Another disadvantage is the casual linkage between the training and the outcome from the training.  It is believed to not be necessarily true that if individuals trained found value in the training and that it was a direct effect on any changes. 

In order to minimize the disadvantages of the tool, as an organization I would either establish a longer period of time to evaluate or, realistically, accept the training results as a success when organizational goals are met.  Future modifications to training can be evaluated as future training is conducted and performance goals are reassessed.

References

Bates, R. (2004). A critical analysis of evaluation practice: the Kirkpatrick model and the   principle of beneficence. Evaluation and Program Planning, 27, 341-347. Retrieved from https://aetcnec.ucsf.edu/sites/aetcnec.ucsf.edu/files/resources/A%20critical%20analysis%20of%20evaluation%20practice.pdf

Kopp, D. M. (2014). Human resource development: Performance improvement through learning. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education.

Week 3 Discussion 1

Debra Fowler-Mills 

11/23/2016 7:13:47 PM

How would you use Kirkpatrick’s taxonomy to evaluate the training?

Kirkpatrick, developed what is called Kirkpatrick’s taxonomy, it contains four levels of evaluation, reaction, Learning, behavior, and result (Kopp, 2014).

as stated in the Lecture it would first be important to understand how the models work, and be aware of the advantages and disadvantages. Bates noted that the Kirkpatrick model is one of the most popular models in organizational design for the evaluation of training. The main reason for the popularity of the Kirkpatrick model is that simplicity of the model (Bates, 2004).

Level one and two of Kirkpatrick`s taxonomy are said to be important to consider when developing training materials for a training session(Kopp, 2014).

What could you do to minimize the disadvantages of the tool?

In our lecture we read, Bates (2004) stated that the model has three limitations (disadvantages): incompleteness of the model, assumption of causality, and the assumption of increasing importance of the information as the levels of outcomes are climbed. The incompleteness of the model refers to the oversimplification of the model. The model does not reflect individual or contextual influences of the evaluation of the training (Bates, 2004).

having a clear understanding of the disadvantages can help to minimize them, as Bates stated it can help to develop alternatives and lessen the impact the disadvantages can have.

REFERENCES;

Bates, R. (2004). A critical analysis of evaluation practice: the Kirkpatrick model and the principle of beneficence.Evaluation and Program Planning, 27,341-347. Retrieved from Lecture for the week.

Kopp, D. M. (2014).Human resource development: Performance improvement through learning. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education.

Discussion 2

Denby Barrow 

11/24/2016 8:20:17 AM

Beta-Testing

Read the article “Apple is Beta-testing an Update that Kills Evasion Jailbreak.”  In the textbook, beta-testing is described as used for formative evaluation and for fine-tuning. How does the story of Apple’s beta-test meet the criteria?

            Beta testing is a formative evaluation, which is a method for judging the worth of a program while the program activities are forming therefore evaluating training processes (Kopp, 2014). Apple has had a love-hate relationship with hackers for years when the company introduced the infamous IPhone. I am guilty myself, I have used the same hacking tool (Evasi0n) to jailbreak a IPhone years ago, and Apple’s beta-testing is a formative evaluation to see if the new update will in fact prevent the hacking tool from working. In this trial phase, Apple will gauge the effectiveness of the patch and more than likely see how fast hackers can find its vulnerabilities. In the article, “Apple is Beta-testing an Update that Kills Evasi0n Jailbreak”, Greenberg (2013) writes, “Security researchers have nonetheless pointed out that Evasi0n could give criminals or spies some nasty ideas”. The beta-test will also allow Apple to fix security issues with the phone’s lock screen and possible other bug fixes that pose security risks. Beta-testing is important for any business that functions on the internet, depends on social media for its consumer base, and wants to survive in today’s global market.

References

Greenberg, A. (2013). Apple is beta-testing an update that kills evasion jailbreak. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/02/25/apple-is-beta-testing-a-fix-for-evasi0n-jailbreak/

Kopp, D. M. (2014). Human resource development: Performance improvement through learning. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education.     

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Heather Regennitter 

11/25/2016 12:20:19 PM

Apple’s beta-testing was tested by creators before the beta is released.  We use this same kind of testing in my place of business.  We run the system through a test environment and then when the fixes are released we continue to test in production and try to find bugs or flaws in the system.  This is consistent with the definition in the text.  Apple is concerned with the security of their customers information so they perform the testing to try to find bugs and fix them so hackers can’t access the systems.  Once the beta is released, it will be tested by the intended users in the production environment.   

Kopp, D. M. (2014).  Human resource development: Performance improvement through learning . San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education.

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