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Vol. 15 No. 1 (2025)
Enero-Junio

Articles

ROI in Training: Strategic Tool or Misused Evaluation? An Analysis in the Department of Santander, Colombia

https://doi.org/10.19053/uptc.20278306.v15.n1.2025.19185

Published 2025-03-31

  • Orlando Enrique Contreras-Pacheco
    • ,
  • Rodolfo Mosquera-Navarro
    • ,
  • Juan Camilo Lésmez-Peralta

Orlando Enrique Contreras-Pacheco
industrial University of Santander image/svg+xml

Rodolfo Mosquera-Navarro
Industrial University of Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia image/svg+xml

Juan Camilo Lésmez-Peralta
Industrial University of Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia image/svg+xml

Abstract

This study examines the perceptions of companies in the department of Santander, Colombia, regarding the rigor in developing training programs and evaluating their outcomes using Return on Investment (ROI) techniques. Through a two-round Delphi study, the perspectives of 21 academics and professionals on the effectiveness of these evaluations were consolidated. Despite consensus on the importance of training and development processes, the results suggest a discrepancy between the intention to measure the strategic impact and the lack of implementation of robust evaluation models. Companies tend to prioritize the urgent (immediate evaluations based on perceptions) over the important (long-term ROI measurement), highlighting a disconnect between intention and action. This study offers a first approach to the topic in Colombia and suggests future research on the implementation of evaluation models in the productive sector.

Keywords

training and development, return on investment, human capital, program evaluation

PDF (Español)

Author Biography

Orlando Enrique Contreras-Pacheco

Ingeniero Industrial, Ph.D. in Management.

Rodolfo Mosquera-Navarro

Ingeniero Industrial, Doctor en Ingeniería - Industria y Organizaciones.

Juan Camilo Lésmez-Peralta

Ingeniero Industrial, Magíster en Gerencia de Negocios.

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