Magazine Articles

By Don Kirkpatrick Trainingmagazine graciously asked me to write the final Last Word column for 2011 in view of my 50-plus years as a training professional, my creation of the Four Levels of Evaluation, and my recent retirement. Much has happened through these last 50 years.

Global research performed by the HPO Center in The Netherlands shows that many organizations make the wrong choices when undergoing a reorganization. Cuts are made in the wrong projects, poorly performing employees stay in place, and the organization focuses mainly on internal cost savings. The HPO Center surveyed the most important qualities needed to be and remain successful at more than 1,400 organizations in 50 countries. Results showed that five success factors give organizations the right focus in a reorganization:

Last month, I regretfully had to have a 70-foot-tall, stately maple tree removed from my front lawn. Unfortunately, it had fallen victim to a condition called girdling roots, in which the roots grew around the base of the trunk and choked off vital nutrients and water. A few weeks later, I noticed a hint of green peeking out from the mound of mulch. I cleared away the dirt and found a small sprout growing in the spot.

By Jason W. Womack, MEd, MA Productivity often is measured by output. What project did you finish? What product did you ship? At this time of the year, measure differently. Much of what you completed this year was dependent on the people in your (extended) networks. Beyond Facebook friends and LinkedIn contacts, these are people who influence goals and priorities and help you get things done.

By Lorri Freifeld

We hear a lot about work/life balance, but it actually is a myth, says Jon Gordon, author of “The Seed: Finding Purpose and Happiness in Life and Work” (Wiley, 2011, www.JonGordon.com). “Rather,” he explains, “I’ve come to realize that the dance between work and life is more about rhythm than balance.” Some tips:

By Constance Melrose Wall Street may not be fashionable in some circles, but here’s one statement that’s tough to dispute: Wall Street professionals know how to negotiate a good deal. Last year, even in relatively lean times, 56 percent of Wall Street financial pros reported earning a higher bonus than they earned the year before.

SSI Investments II Ltd., a parent company of SkillSoft Ltd., a software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider of on-demand e-learning and performance support solutions, announced that its indirect subsidiaries, SkillSoft Corp. and SkillSoft Ireland Ltd., acquired Element K from NIIT Ventures Inc., a subsidiary of NIIT Ltd. Element K’s offerings include e-learning content, virtual labs, ILT print materials, and custom development services. Under the terms of the agreement, the Element K business was acquired for $110 million in cash, subject to adjustments.

By Margery Weinstein A changing mindset combined with changing technology is driving the use of games and simulations, says Karl M. Kapp, a learning and technology expert and professor of instructional technology at Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, PA. “People are becoming more open to using games and simulations for learning, and, at the same time, the technologies are making the development of games and simulations easier and faster than a mere five years ago.”

Kudos Inc. launched its peer-to-peer social recognition and employee engagement system. With this interactive system, team members and management can recognize one another for any act, effort, or attitude that supports their culture, values, or objectives.