If the RECESSION hits…

Over the past 5 years much has been written about the movement to try and quantify the value that Learning and Development provides to the organization. The ROI and Measurement movement has produced seminars, books, new methodologies, and new career opportunities.

As the evidence of recession continues to build some late adopters are scrambling to put some facts and figures in front of the decision makers that may, at this very moment, be reviewing organization charts to determine where the cuts, if necessary, will be made. These late adopters are probably too late.

The questions I pose are:

Will the efforts of the past several years to validate the value of Learning and Development pay off?
Will Learning and Development organizations, traditionally viewed as an expense line item, suddenly be viewed as profit producers?
Will the cutbacks that have occurred in rough economic time within Learning and Development be as severe or will senior management have a new regard?

These questions remain unanswered however it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out.