How do you align level 2 evaluation with business goals and metrics?

1 Define your business goals and metrics

Before you start designing your level 2 evaluation, you need to have a clear understanding of what your business goals and metrics are. What are the specific outcomes that you want to achieve with your training program? How will you measure and track them? How will they align with your strategic vision and mission? You can use tools such as SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) or OKR (objectives and key results) to help you define and communicate your business goals and metrics. By doing so, you will be able to align your level 2 evaluation with the expectations and needs of your stakeholders and sponsors.

2 Choose appropriate level 2 evaluation methods and tools

Once you have defined your business goals and metrics, you need to choose the most appropriate methods and tools to measure the learning outcomes of your training program. There are various methods and tools that you can use for level 2 evaluation, such as pre- and post-tests, quizzes, surveys, interviews, observations, portfolios, simulations, or case studies. The choice of methods and tools depends on several factors, such as the type and level of learning objectives, the content and format of the training, the availability of resources and time, the characteristics and preferences of the learners, and the validity and reliability of the data. You should also consider using a combination of methods and tools to capture different aspects and dimensions of learning and to increase the credibility and accuracy of your evaluation.

3 Align your level 2 evaluation questions with your business goals and metrics

Another important step to align your level 2 evaluation with your business goals and metrics is to formulate your evaluation questions based on the desired outcomes and indicators. Your evaluation questions should reflect what you want to know about the learning outcomes of your training program and how they relate to your business goals and metrics. For example, if your business goal is to increase customer satisfaction and your metric is the net promoter score (NPS), your evaluation question could be: How did the training program improve the participants' knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to customer service and loyalty? You should also make sure that your evaluation questions are clear, specific, relevant, and measurable.

4 Collect and analyze your level 2 evaluation data

After you have chosen your methods and tools and formulated your evaluation questions, you need to collect and analyze your level 2 evaluation data. You should follow a systematic and ethical process to collect and store your data, ensuring that you respect the confidentiality and consent of the participants and comply with the relevant laws and regulations. You should also use appropriate techniques and tools to analyze your data, such as descriptive or inferential statistics, qualitative or quantitative methods, or software or manual analysis. You should aim to answer your evaluation questions and to draw meaningful and valid conclusions from your data.

5 Report and communicate your level 2 evaluation results

The final step to align your level 2 evaluation with your business goals and metrics is to report and communicate your results to your stakeholders and sponsors. You should prepare a clear, concise, and compelling report that summarizes your evaluation purpose, methods, data, findings, conclusions, and recommendations. You should also highlight how your level 2 evaluation results support or challenge your business goals and metrics, and what implications or actions they suggest for future training or improvement. You should use appropriate formats and channels to communicate your report, such as written or oral reports, presentations, dashboards, or infographics. You should also solicit feedback and suggestions from your stakeholders and sponsors and use them to refine or revise your level 2 evaluation or training program.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?