When to Use Results-based Design: Marathon Case Study
In 2009, following the investigation of a contractor fatality, Marathon Petroleum Company’s Transportation and Logistics (T&L) organization “designed a new approach to training” that would enhance the organization’s ability to conduct life-critical tasks without error.
After consulting with The Bob Pike Group’s Becky Pluth, T&L determined that a results-based design was the best approach, according to David Foulke, T&L health, environment and safety professional. “The research-based design session fit our need to identify gaps and create a plan to guide us. It focused on the things that we felt were lacking in our approach. It also was participant-centered, engaging and purposeful.”
Through the design session, “we defined our objectives and created a plan to guide the process that was agreed to by a cross-functional group of impacted employees,” he said. “A good plan helps you weather the challenges that will come later.”
There were a lot of challenges. There needed to be consistency in the training across multiple organizations, the material covered is technical, and the education and experience levels of those to be trained varied. Validation of how well the information was retained was inconsistent.
However, T&L saw success with the re-worked program. “There is consistent understanding of the procedures across diverse organizations along with high test scores and positive feedback,” Foulke said. The organization has seen the training tools used on the job, and even senior leaders have attended the training and praised it. The participant-centered methods have now become part of our future organizational goals and other organizations are interested in the program and philosophy, Foulke said.
T&L later received the Pike’s Peak Award because of its successful implementation of participant-centered training methods which has resulted in an increase in retention and skill-transfer based on Kirkpatrick level three evaluations. The Pike’s Peak Award is a formal recognition of learning leaders and/or their organization for their implementation of Participant-Centered training that positively impacts performance.
The Bob Pike Group has provided train-the-trainer workshops and consulting services to individuals and corporations for more than 30 years.
