How do you know whether training has made a difference?
For many organisations, this remains a surprisingly difficult question to answer.
Across government, training is one of the most widely used tools for strengthening capability, improving performance and delivering strategic objectives. From military operations and security cooperation to improving public service delivery, training is often expected to drive change.
Yet evidence about results often stops at the classroom door.
Most programmes can report how many people attended a course. Many can demonstrate that participants found training useful or acquired new knowledge. Far fewer can show whether people applied what they learned, whether performance improved, or whether training contributed to wider strategic objectives.
This challenge is particularly important in an era of constrained budgets and scrutiny of public spending. Decision-makers need evidence not only that training was delivered, but that it generated meaningful outcomes and represented good value for money.
To help address this challenge, Itad developed the Training Assessment System for Evaluation and Reporting (TASER). Our accompanying TASER Guide provides an overview of the framework, including what it is, how it can be used to assess training effectiveness, and key considerations when applying the framework.
A practical framework for assessing training results
TASER was designed to move beyond measuring participation and satisfaction. It helps organisations understand whether training leads to changes in behaviour, improved performance and better outcomes, while also identifying the factors that help or hinder success.
The framework builds on established approaches to evaluating training, including the Kirkpatrick model, and assesses training across six levels. Together, these provide a comprehensive picture of effectiveness, from training design and delivery through to individual and organisational performance.
Applying the framework: what have we learned?
Since Itad originally developed TASER to assess the results of UK-funded military training delivered to peacekeeping forces operating in Africa, we have applied the framework across a wide range of military and civilian capability-building programmes.
TASER has helped training providers strengthen programme design and delivery, generate robust evidence of training effectiveness, and understand the institutional and operational factors that influence whether new knowledge and skills are applied in practice.
A notable example is Itad’s long-term support to UK-funded military training in Somalia. For seven years, TASER provided a detailed picture of how training translates into operational performance. Through in-depth assessments of routine military operations and regular field assessments, the work generated evidence of training outcomes while uncovering barriers to the effective application of new capabilities.
As well as its use to assess military training, Itad also applied TASER in a range of non-military contexts where training is expected to drive behavioural or organisational change. For example, a review of training delivered as part of the UK Government’s support to Overseas Territories examined a range of interventions focused on institutional strengthening and public sector capability development, including training on cyber security, public health incident response, and incident command. It also explored the effectiveness of different delivery modalities, including face-to-face, hybrid and remote learning.
These insights enabled training teams to adapt and refine training programmes to better reflect operational realities. In doing so, TASER helped ensure that training decisions were informed by evidence rather than assumptions, improving the relevance and effectiveness of support.
Six lessons from applying TASER
1. Speak the language of the user
One factor behind TASER’s successful adoption was grounding the framework in language and concepts that resonated with military practitioners. Monitoring systems are far more likely to be used when they align with the operational realities of those responsible for delivering programmes.
2. Build confidence through testing and learning
Embedding new measurement approaches requires trust. Piloting TASER with a test and learn approach helped demonstrate its practical value, built confidence among users and created momentum for wider adoption.
3. Measure what matters most
Many organisations already collect substantial information about training delivery and participant satisfaction. The greatest evidence gap often lies in understanding changes in performance and organisational effectiveness. TASER’s proportionate approach helps target resources towards answering the most important questions.
4. Real-world effects can be measured, even in challenging environments
Access constraints and security challenges can make post-training assessment difficult. However, our experience shows that meaningful evidence can still be gathered. TASER provides a structured way to identify what is feasible and design approaches that generate credible evidence in complex settings.
5. Outcomes depend on more than training
Across multiple applications, TASER has highlighted that outcomes depend on more than the quality of training itself. Leadership, organisational culture, institutional systems, incentives, and local partnerships all influence whether learning translates into sustained improvements in performance.
6. Better evidence supports better value for money
TASER helps organisations understand not only whether training was delivered well, but whether it led to meaningful improvements in individual and organisational performance.
This evidence can inform programme design, improve accountability, strengthen the targeting of resources and support decisions about where future investment will have the greatest impact. Ultimately, it helps funders and training providers achieve better value for money.
Learn more
Training will remain a central tool for building capability across government and beyond. But understanding whether it works requires evidence that extends beyond attendance figures and participant feedback.
Our accompanying TASER Guide provides an overview of the framework and how it can help. If you think TASER could be of value to you and your organisation, please get in touch for further information and support.
