Benchmarking

Make use of the efforts of other companies in the area of basic skills training by measuring or benchmarking your WEP against other successful programs.  In addition, many research organizations have already studied existing programs and can provide helpful insights as you design and measure your WEP.

As an employer, you can save yourself time and effort by tapping into existing knowledge on benchmarking for workplace basic skills training.  By looking at case studies, benchmarking studies, Award winners and top contenders, as well as any previous benchmarks or studies done by your company, you can find valuable guides for measuring the success of your current or planned WEP.

Many benchmarking studies of successful programs already exist.  For a study comprising 74 case studies on technology for learning see BNH Expert Software:
    URL: http://www.bnhexpertsoft.com

MassExcellence provides support services to organizations who want to enhance the performance of their management systems.  Learn about performance excellence strategies from the winners of the Massachusetts Performance Excellence Award.
    URL: www.massexcellence.com

The Benchmarking Service of the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) provides a free Measurement Kit to organizations to measure training investments, practices and outcomes.
    URL: http://www.astd.org/virtual_community/research/measure/measurement_kit_main.html

The American Productivity and Quality Center (APQC)'s International Benchmarking Clearinghouse uses an internationally recognized methodology to optimize the process and ensure successful outcomes. The APQC consortium benchmarking studies use a four-phased approach: study planning, data collection, data analysis and reporting, and adaptations of study findings. APQC offers licensing of its benchmarking methodology. 
   URL: http://www.apqc.org/best/whatis.cfm

Partners of the 21st Century Skills Community Network post best practices, strategies for reaching goals and measuring results, and government resources online to enhance education, skills, training and lifelong learning for adults in local communities.
    URL: http://www.skillsnetwork.gov

The National Center for Construction Education and Research develops curricula, career pathways, and research for craft, management, and safety training.
     URL: http://www.nccer.org/

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) was established by the U.S. Department of Education 's Institute of Education Sciences (IES) to provide educators, policymakers, researchers, and the public with a central and trusted source of scientific evidence of what works in education.
     URL: http://www.whatworks.ed.gov/

The Adult Literacy and Lifeskills Survey (ALL), an international comparative study, provides participating countries with information about the skills of their adult populations. In 2003, ALL measured the literacy and numeracy skills of a nationally representative sample of 16- to 65-year olds from Bermuda, Canada, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, and the United States.
     URL: http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/all/issuebrief.asp

The National Center for Education Statistics provides state education profiles. Individuals may search for statewide information in elementary/secondary education, postsecondary education, public libraries and selected demographics for all states in the U.S.
    URL: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/stateprofiles/

The findings of the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) assessment of adult English literacy skills in the U.S. discuss the relationship between literacy and employment status, occupation, weekly wage or salary, job training, and participation in public assistance programs.
     URL: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007480

ISO standards help to ensure processing quality, safety, reliability, efficiency and interchangeability in the delivery of goods and services. The widespread adoption of International Standards means that suppliers can base the development of their products and services on specifications that have wide acceptance in their sectors.
     URL: http://www.iso.org

A new report for the National Commission on Adult Literacy describes various aspects of current workplace education programs in 20 states. It examines program funding; partnerships; strategic plans; measures of success and future policy options.
     URL: http://www.nationalcommissiononadultliteracy.org/pandp.html

For problems or questions regarding this web site contact campbell@conferenceboard.ca.
Last updated: September 8, 2007.