Numbers One way of measuring the success of training is the good old 'bums on seats'. Although by no means a true measure of the effectiveness of training, student numbers do reflect the fact that the training is addressing a need and that the design and methodology is meeting expectations. If the programme did not take place, these costs would not be incurred. Many organisations only ever take direct costs into consideration when measuring training costs. Indirect cost Indirect costs are costs that may or may not be directly associated with a training event, but which would have been incurred anyway, whether or not the training took place.
Examples are salaries of in-house trainers and students and the costs of rooms and equipment.
Any analysis of the true costs of training will include both direct and indirect costs. Efficiency Efficiency is a measure of the amount of learning achieved relative to the amount of effort put in. In practical terms this means the amount of time it takes to complete a piece of training. In these situations, the extent to which a training programme performs to schedule is a critical measure of success. Income received If you are a training provider operating externally to a client organisation, then income received is a vital measure of your success.