Jack and Patti Phillips publish their 50th book in collaboration with ATD.
The names Jack and Patti Phillips are synonymous with measurement and evaluation in the talent development field. Patti is the president and CEO of ROI Institute, and Jack is the institute’s chairman. Their latest book, Designing Virtual Learning for Application and Impact: 50 Techniques to Ensure Results, marks the noteworthy milestone of being their 50th book published in collaboration with ATD.
The Phillips’ first book with the-then American Society for Training and Development, Measuring Return on Investment, Volume 1, published in 1994. “Through ATD, talent development has largely been where ROI has developed,” the Phillips explain.
“Literally hundreds of case studies have been published over time. Without ATD, ROI would not be so dominant in the profession as it is today. The ROI Methodology, the only evaluation system endorsed by ATD, has become the most-used evaluation system in the world, and much of that goes to our collaborative documentation of many studies and processes that support ROI.”
There are four areas in the TD arena that the Phillips have influenced through their books, they say, the first being an expansion of the scope of the profession: “Together we’ve worked on expanding the scope of TD to be more than just learning and development.”
Some titles include Developing High-Performance Work Teams Volume 1 (1998) and Volume 2 (1999), Linking HRD Programs with Organizational Strategy (1998), Leading Knowledge Management and Learning (2000), and Retaining Your Best Employees (2002). The other areas are accountability in the TD profession, providing tools for practitioners, and connecting the TD team to the senior executives.
In addition to their prolific writing, ATD presented the Phillips with its Thought Leader Award in 2022, which recognizes those who have contributed significant thought leadership to the profession with sustained impact. Patti serves as a member of the board of trustees of the UN Institute for Training and Research, chair of the Institute for Corporate Productivity People Analytics Board, principal research fellow for the Conference Board, was selected the 2015 CPLP Fellow from ATD.
Jack is a former member of ASTD’s Board of Directors and is responsible for developing the ROI methodology. He regularly consults with clients in manufacturing, service, and government organizations in 70 countries. Together, Jack and Patti have been recognized as two of the first-ever released Top 50 World Leaders in Coaching by Thinkers50.
Designing Virtual Learning for Application and Impact, co-authored with Cindy Huggett and Emma Weber, advises readers on how to deliver real business impact with their virtual learning programs. The book offers practical guidance and techniques L&D professionals can use to effectively design an engaging virtual learning program.
The Phillips shared their aha moments regarding how the profession has evolved since they’ve begun with ATD: “The first aha moment is the use of technology-based learning. Our early publications with ATD, Implementing HRD Technology (1999) and Implementing E-Learning Solutions (2001), helped to prepare the field to gradually move to technology-based learning. In those early days, we showed what needed to be done and how it should work.”
They continue: “Our 2014 book, Measuring the Success of Learning Through Technology: A Guide for Measuring Impact and ROI on E-Learning, Blended Learning, and Mobile Learning, was a guidebook on how to ensure that learning through technology delivers value. All of this helped TD manage the transition during the pandemic, making it much smoother than it could have been.”
The second aha moment, they say, “is occurring now with layoffs.” Previously, the Phillips maintain, TD faced much larger layoffs when compared to other functions. Now, however, “L&D may be holding up and not suffering more than other areas. We would like to see a few organizations increase TD budgets during this contraction period. Then we'll know we've made a difference,” say the duo.
To commemorate the momentous publishing landmark, the Phillips are sponsoring the ATD Store during the 2023 International Conference & EXPO. The ATD Store opening reception and book sale will take place Saturday, May 20 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Appetizers and drinks will be available, and attendees will have the opportunity to browse the shelves, get first dibs on the books and other merchandise, as well as meet other attendees.
