Kirkpatrick plus: Evaluation and continuous improvement with a community focus

For almost 40 years, Donald Kirkpatrick's framework for evaluation has been used as a basic model for the identification and targeting of training-spe cific interventions in business, government, military, and industry alike. By approaching evaluation from four different perspectives-reaction, learni ng, behavior, and results-the model has provided a solid basis for the exam ination of training's impact on the organization. Despite the current pract ice of measuring one's success according to the success of one's clients, p roposed changes in the model have not been frequently adopted. It is theref ore likely time for professionals to reevaluate the utility and responsiven ess off he Kirkpatrick framework to meet the value-added requirements of to day's organizations. This article identifies fools and concepts for being r esponsive to the new organizational realities not originally addressed by t he Kirkpatrick model.