[NIFL-ESL:10617] RE: Defending Workplace ESL

From: Susan Reid (sreid@workbase.org.nz)
Date: Wed Dec 01 2004 - 19:51:20 EST


Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov>
Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id iB20pJF00209; Wed, 1 Dec 2004 19:51:20 -0500 (EST)
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2004 19:51:20 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <6D8722806DF028459457DC1759BD63A3027853@sbswb1>
Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov
Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov
Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov
Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov
Precedence: bulk
From: "Susan Reid" <sreid@workbase.org.nz>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-ESL:10617] RE: Defending Workplace ESL
X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Content-Type: text/plain;
Status: O
Content-Length: 2831
Lines: 57


 Peter 
In New Zealand we have really worked hard to push the ROI argument
because we operated for many years in an unsubsidised market 
Have a look  at our website and download a copy of a publication called
Voices from Management in which we discuss the return on Investment from
workplace literacy programmes. There is a model in the Introduction that
you might find useful 
see
http://www.workbase.org.nz/Document.aspx?Doc=VoicesfromManagementJan2003
Final.pdf
also there is a UK research report looking at the issue as well 
http://www.basic-skills-observatory.co.uk/uploads/doc_uploads/581.pdf

What I really find useful both as a practitioner and as a manager of
programmes is to take the presenting issues from the company e.g. high
levels of rejects and then create a matrix that looks first at the
adverse implications of that issue for the business e.g. increased
rework, customer complaints, production delays, higher raw material
costs   etc etc and then in the next column unpick  the things that the
programme specifically did to address the issue e.g. discussed quality
as a consumer, the importance of the customer,  modelled various
procedural texts, discussed value chain,  and then in the final column
describe if you can the returns that the company has received and where
that evidence came from e.g.  reduction in rejects, reduction in rework
, reduction in raw materials budget etc - ( all this data can come from
a range of sources)  etc. We often find that companies don't want an
actual measure of $$$$$ returns if you can show reduction in other sorts
of figures - they can work the ROI out form themselves often better than
providers can. 
Also on our website is the Executive Summary of a report called More
than Money can Say by an Australian researcher Geoff Pearson who looked
at the returns of a small number of Australian firms and was able to
categorise the returns under 5 h headings. 
 http://www.workbase.org.nz/Document.aspx?Doc=1996-mtmcs.pdf

Good luck 
Regards
 
Susan Reid
Manager, Consultancy Services
 
Workbase: The New Zealand Centre for Workforce Literacy Development.
2 Vermont Street, Ponsonby - PO Box 56571, Dominion Road, Auckland     
Phone: 09 361 3800 - Fax: 09 376 3700           
Website: www.workbase.org.nz - E-mail: sreid@workbase.org.nz 
 
Caution - This e-mail and its contents contain privileged information
that is intended solely for the recipient.  If you are not the intended
recipient you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination,
distribution or reproduction of this e-mail is prohibited.  If you have
received this e-mail in error please notify admin@workbase.org.nz
immediately.  Any views expressed in this e-mail are of the sender and
may not necessarily reflect the views of Workbase: The New Zealand
Centre for Workforce Literacy Development.
 



This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Thu Dec 23 2004 - 09:46:56 EST