Joe Moarkech – May 7, 2025

It is very important to have continuous evaluation throughout the learning and development process in all its aspects. Everything should be evaluated: trainer, material, topics, supportive multimedia, tests and assessments, location, food, beverages, timing, and all other details. 

But it is more important to make sure that the right criteria with the right objectivity and the right measurement tools are being used. 

And what is of utmost importance is the courage to evaluate “for” the right reasons; in other words, is the evaluation meant to make sure the customers are happy? Or is it to make sure they actually learned? 

A key point is to remember that when you give anyone the authority to evaluate, most people will abuse it through their biases to serve their own agenda. 

Some might argue that certain evaluations have to be subjective — and that’s absolutely true. But it’s crucial to specify which dimensions and in what context. Subjectivity can be valid, but it must be clearly defined and thoughtfully integrated into the overall plan.

So, the evaluation should follow strict criteria, but only after being thoroughly analyzed within its full contextual and multidimensional scope.

Here are a series of questions to help ensure that:

• Is the evaluator qualified to evaluate? If not, is he or she evaluating something subjective or objective? 
• Are the criteria clearly detailed so that they can’t be confused?
• Are the criteria confusing and/or manipulative?
• Is the time to evaluate enough and relevant?
• Are the last-minute trainer tricks to boost results taken into consideration?
• Could the participants’ biased opinions affect the foundation of the project?
• Could the participants’ biased opinions affect their development journey?
• Are the participants asked to evaluate what is above their capability to judge?
• Is the evaluation going to be used as a booster of the development journey? 
• Is the evaluation going to be contextually discussed with the project owners objectively so that it adds to the development and not only the commercial aspect of the project?
• Is the grading system fair for the criteria in question?
• Is the weight distributed fairly among the dimensions?

Many questions should be asked to ensure that the evaluation is as objective and accurate as possible, serving the development plan first and foremost, rather than simply reflecting an entertaining style to secure the project’s continuation, or even worse, not to be a powerful tool in the wrong hands.

Happy sheets or not?

Surely yes and surely no!

It all depends on how deep, objective and accurate the whole process is, because it is the defining factor of all the efforts and their impact.