Organizations that place a high value on developing their people, perform at higher levels, are more attractive to potential employees, and are better able to retain top talent.

Effective HR development efforts are characterized by:

• The accurate identification of development needs
• Clearly articulated objectives
• Integrated instructional methods with work experience
• Evaluation that clearly demonstrates the impact of the program

Given the substantial investment necessary to develop effective employees, expert HR development program design and evaluation is imperative to ensure that time and resources are correctly invested to realize substantial pay-offs.

At Performance Development International, Inc. (PDII) we have the expertise and extensive diagnostic and evaluation experience to assist you in creating successful HR development programs.

Do Our HR Development Department and Programs Provide Value to the “Bottom Line?”

The objective, expert perspective offered by PDII can substantially improve your human resource development efforts by answering important questions such as:

• Are the resources committed to HR development invested where they will obtain the highest return?
• What impact are training programs having on employee development and organizational outcomes, e.g., recruiting, retention, morale, and productivity?
• Is the HRD Department operating efficiently and effectively?
• Are we integrating training and work experience to create a highly effective learning environment?
• How successful is career management in helping us develop the talent we will need?
• Are we developing our best people so they can successfully perform in challenging jobs?

No one program fits every organization. At PDII, we work with you to first understand your specific situation, needs, and goals. We then develop results-oriented programs that are tailored to best meet your needs and achieve your organization’s objectives.

Our customized HR development approach focuses on:

• Carefully constructed needs assessments
• Alignment of business and development goals
• Integration of formal development and work experiences
• Evaluation of learning opportunities to demonstrate value and offer program improvement

Led by President and Consultant Dr. Dow Scott, PDII approaches HR development solutions from sound business practices and proven research methodologies. An authority on the design and evaluation of leadership and employee development programs, Dr. Scott holds a Ph.D. in Human Resources from Michigan State University, has 25 years consulting experience, and has authored or co-authored hundreds of publications on this topic.

A Sample of Organizations That Have Benefited from PDII’s HRD Evaluation Process

A Comparative Analysis of Training Policies and Practices at USG Corp.

In an effort to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of USG’s HR development efforts, PDII identified key elements of an effective training program and compiled a set of comparison organizations to examine. Each company completed a HR Development Practices Survey and was then invited to discuss their developmental strategies at two conferences hosted by USG. The results of the HR Practices Survey and conferences provided substantial insights into “state of the art” developmental programs as well as offering insight into innovative development strategies that were being used. The findings helped USG determine how to better utilize their HR developmental resources and strengthened their network among innovative companies.

Evaluation of College Recruiting and New Associate Training at Marsh, Inc.

Marsh invests over $10 million annually to recruit and train college graduates for exciting and demanding careers in brokering insurance. However, within three years 30% of the college recruits left the firm. Management wanted to know if this program was worth the investment and to better understand what they could do to enhance the recruitment and training program’s effectiveness. PDII conducted an in-depth examination of the program’s recruitment strategies, selection methods, new employee orientation, and ongoing development to assess the overall contribution these efforts made to the client. PDII’s examination revealed that the company’s efforts offered the company a substantial contribution in finding and developing talented, motivate professionals who company managers judged as being outstanding performers. Additionally, recommendations were provided to further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the college recruitment and training programs.

Team Leadership Development at Sara Lee Knit Products

Sara Lee Knit Products successfully introduced self-managing teams to their apparel manufacturing facilities which greatly enhanced productivity and quality. However, culture conflict between highly participative work teams and a traditionally organized management structure created problems. Working closely with senior management and a steering committee, a four day leadership program was developed to create a team environment among company leaders and professionals. This program was conducted for 50 leadership teams in Sara Lee’s North American operations. Substantial savings and innovations were attributed to this program.

Leadership and Communications Programs for the U.S. Forest Service

Working with U.S. Forest Service, we created a two week leadership program to help mid-career technical specialists transition into management. This leadership program has been offered for over 15 years with over 600 Forest Service employees having attended this program. Dr. Scott facilitates the team leadership module.

Customized Seminars and Workshops Offered by PDII

Leadership and Communications

Client Participation

• U.S. Forest Service
• Virginia Tech

Creating High Performance Organizations

• Management Association of Illinois

Incentive Systems for Effective Organizations

• Loyola University
• Scanlon Leadership Network

Creating All-Star Teams Using the Scanlon Principles

• Sara Lee Coffee and Tea
• Marsh, Inc.
• Scanlon Leadership Network
• Illinois Manufacturing Association
• Kollmorgan and Hollngsworth
• Vose

Leadership in Changing Times - Effective Team Leadership

• APCO
• Courtalds

Employee Involvement and Shared Rewards

• Kollmorgen-Industrial Drives
• Hollingsworth & Vose

Team Management

• Montgomery Regional Hospital & Poly-Scientific

Handling Problem Employees

• Volvo-White

Effective Problem Solving

• Virginia Tech