Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) Practice Exam

Which step is NOT a part of Brinkerhoff's Success Case Method?

1. Documenting success

2. Creating an impact model

3. Conducting a financial analysis

4. Planning the success case study

The correct answer is: Conducting a financial analysis

The success case method, developed by Robert Brinkerhoff, focuses on identifying and documenting instances of successful outcomes resulting from a training or development program. It emphasizes understanding what works and why, through a systematic approach. Creating an impact model is a crucial part of this method, as it allows practitioners to clarify the expected outcomes and the pathways that lead to success. This model serves as a roadmap to identify and analyze the factors contributing to successful performance resulting from the training. Planning the success case study is also integral, as it involves determining how to gather data and evidence regarding the success stories, ensuring that the study captures relevant information effectively. Documenting success is fundamentally essential to the method as well, as this process involves collecting and presenting the evidence of success to demonstrate the impact of the training or development initiative. It allows for reflection and learning from effective practices that can potentially inform future initiatives. Conducting a financial analysis, however, is not a part of the success case method. While understanding the financial implications of a program can be valuable in a broader evaluation context, it is not an intrinsic step within this specific approach. The focus of Brinkerhoff's method is primarily qualitative, centering on documenting successes and understanding how they are achieved rather than quantifying financial metrics