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Return on Investment (ROI) Basics
Return on Investment (ROI) Basics provides a baseline exploration of ROI for both novice and experienced WLP practitioners. Additionally, it includes a review of two essential, often overlooked, steps in the ROI communicating results and integrating ROI into an organizations learning programs.
200 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 19, 2025
Return on Investment (ROI) is not the most scintillating topic, but for anyone who works in an industry where this evaluation process is wielded as the headsman's axe or more benevolently as the Rod of Encouragement, it can be helpful to know a little about what is being measured in ROI and how.
My aim has been to understand ROI well enough to see how it might be used formatively and pro-actively as a way to 1) articulate the value of what my unit does, 2) connect those values to broader institutional values, 3) identify meaningful and valid ways of measuring that value, 4) develop reliable procedures for taking those measurements, and 5) formulate plans for ways for making positive adjustments. And, importantly, to do this before being required to do it and to do so in a way that can garner some buy in from those who need to be convinced or reassured of the value.
Honestly, this book lives up to the title. I thought it gave a good overview of the ROI process and presented the process of value assessment that would pretty much work for profit and non-profit enterprises. The authors also talked about ROI for its formative value as opposed to a way to justify cost-cutting -- although that is a potential outcome as well.
There are some good heuristics and worksheets that have been generative, so far. There are also some good pointers about ways to earn buy in from dubious partners and how to communicate the results of ROI testing and impact measurement to decision makers at different levels of authority.
All in all valuable whether you are playing offense of defense.
My aim has been to understand ROI well enough to see how it might be used formatively and pro-actively as a way to 1) articulate the value of what my unit does, 2) connect those values to broader institutional values, 3) identify meaningful and valid ways of measuring that value, 4) develop reliable procedures for taking those measurements, and 5) formulate plans for ways for making positive adjustments. And, importantly, to do this before being required to do it and to do so in a way that can garner some buy in from those who need to be convinced or reassured of the value.
Honestly, this book lives up to the title. I thought it gave a good overview of the ROI process and presented the process of value assessment that would pretty much work for profit and non-profit enterprises. The authors also talked about ROI for its formative value as opposed to a way to justify cost-cutting -- although that is a potential outcome as well.
There are some good heuristics and worksheets that have been generative, so far. There are also some good pointers about ways to earn buy in from dubious partners and how to communicate the results of ROI testing and impact measurement to decision makers at different levels of authority.
All in all valuable whether you are playing offense of defense.
July 22, 2020
ROI Basics delivers what is says "on the tin" but I feel that it focuses more on the PoV of an external L&D consultant. The process -although factually correct and effective- would be much faster/agile for a consultant that already knows the business they are supporting (eg someone that works as an L&D Business Partner for an organisation). Perhaps something to add in the next version or the appendix.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews