An evaluation of the Royal Military College of Canada's Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year leadership practicum was conducted in 2009. This novel approach used several human performance technology (HPT) models to frame the evaluation and identify the dimensions and subdimensions of merit. This article explains the theoretical framework of the…

Most employees do not like to be evaluated because they fear the process and people involved. Although optimal performance evaluators can minimize people's anxieties about being assessed, actual performance evaluators can perpetuate employees' fears and, worse, lower their job performances and morale. A case study illustrates the actions of an…

Burt Huber and his team from Ariel Performance Centered Systems won a performance support design award at last year's Online Learning Conference for their system at Payless shoes. Huber discusses some details of his organization's designs; how he approaches a client; how he assesses organizational readiness for performance support; role of…

Discusses the use of questionnaires and surveys in the field of performance technology and suggests the usefulness of interviews. Provides an overview of three types of interviews that are useful to performance technologists, explains how to conduct interviews, and describes advantages and limitations of interviewing in person versus on the…

This sixth article in the Performance Technologist's Toolbox series focuses on the critical incident method of data collection. Critical incidents are narrative descriptions of important events that occur on the job and how employees behave in those situations. Critical incidents document the work context, the specific situation that arose, the…

Examines focus groups from a performance technology perspective, describes the focus group process, and discusses uses and misuses. Suggests that due to the depth and accuracy of insights revealed, focus groups have potential to aid performance technologists in their analyses of performance deficiencies as well as their formative and summative…

Describes a study of the barriers and enablers to the practice of HPT (human performance technology) that included a research review and interviews with professionals. Highlights communication and language, business environment change, professional relationships and placement of HPT expertise, and the need for a new business model for HPT.…