Dr John O'Connor, head of Ceres Management, who has developed the "Results Assessment" methodology, says, "We're planning to roll out Results Assessment with a select few 'pilot' organisations throughout the early months of 2012. HR and L&D leaders who would welcome a fresh approach to impact evaluation in their organisation are welcome to contact us to be part of our partnership programme."

"The challenge for many of us is to show the tangible connection between programme delivery and business results. This is especially true for training and development. Measuring the results of our development activities is the only way to know whether we are adding value or adding cost to our organisation", he adds.

Ceres Management is offering to introduce Results Assessment to HR directors, learning and development managers, training managers, and OD practitioners who may be under cost- cutting pressure yet need to show that their programmes support employee engagement and critical business goals.

"In return, we're looking for training/development projects or programmes that address a current and relevant organisational need. The programme should involve a significant audience size at mid-to-senior positions and have clear organisational sponsorship", O'Connor explains. "Moreover, the project must be new - and we need to be involved at the programme-planning phase."

HR and training professionals who understand the importance of evaluation but who also realise that there's a gap between what they do and what they want to do could find the answer to this unsatisfactory state of affairs in the new evaluation approach "Results Assessment".

Unlike traditional evaluation approaches that are, typically, implemented at the conclusion of a project, the RA model starts by validating the business need before the initiative is developed. With the help of Ceres Management, the RA process can be tailored to any project, and those using RA can be coached, trained, and certificated in its use.