Measuring the Success of Organization Development: A Step-by-Step Guide for Measuring Impact and Calculating ROI

Patricia Pulliam Phillips · Jack J. Phillips · Lizette Zuniga

May 2013 · Association for Talent Development

About this ebook

Measuring the Success of Organizational Development: A Step-by-Step Guide for Measuring Impact and Calculating ROI, by Patricia Pulliam Phillips, Lizette Zuniga, and Jack J. Phillips, examines the strategic role of organizational development (OD), explains the reasons for measuring OD efforts, and proposes a framework for measuring effectiveness. Ultimately, OD practitioners will be able to determine how particular OD interventions correlate with business results; determine areas for investments, modifications, and cessation; justify budget allocations; and be more accountable for how money is spent within their organizations. Part I of the book explains the concept of ROI and outlines the steps to ensure accurate measurement of the effects of OD programs. Part II consists of case studies that show “evaluation in action,” providing a conceptual framework and workable suggestions for developing, implementing, and maintaining programs for measuring success in OD programs.

About the author

Patti Phillips is president and CEO of the ROI Institute and is the ATD Certification Institute's 2015 CPLP Fellow. Since 1997, she has worked with organizations in more than 60 countries as they demonstrate the value of a variety of programs and projects. Patti serves on the board of the Center for Talent Reporting, as Distinguished Principal Research Fellow for The Conference Board, and as faculty on the UN System Staff College in Turin, Italy.
Patti has written and edited numerous books and articles on the topics of measurement, evaluation, and ROI. Recent publications include Measuring the Success of Leadership Development, Making Human Capital Analytics Work, Measuring the Success of Learning Through Technology, Measuring the Success of Organization Development, and Measuring Leadership Development: Quantify Your Program's Impact and ROI on Organizational Performance.


Jack J. Phillips, PhD, is chairman of the ROI Institute and a world-renowned expert on measurement and evaluation. Phillips provides consulting services for Fortune 500 companies and workshops for major conference providers worldwide. Phillips is also the author or editor of more than 100 articles and 75+ books, including Measuring the Success of Leadership Development: A Step-by-Step Guide for Measuring Impact and Calculating ROI (ATD Press). His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Businessweek, Fortune, and on CNN.


Lizette Zuniga is an organizational development consultant who specializes in measurement and cross-cultural talent development. She holds an M.S. degree in psychology from Georgia State University, and a PhD in leadership and HRD from Barry University. She co-authored the book Measuring the Success of OD with Jack and Patti Phillips, and has published several articles and case studies on needs assessment, ROI, and organizational culture.