Designing training programs is one of the most pervasive, yet most misunderstood activities to be found in the field of Human Resource Development (HRD). As the field becomes more complex, every training and HRD professional will need a wider range of skills and techniques to make training programs more effective. This book presents a unique model, the Critical Events Model, which any HRD professional can adapt to design effective training programs. The CEM is not just another theoretical approach to training programs. It is a practical working concept that continuously involves managers and super-visors in the design process. After a brief discussion of open and closed models, the book walks the reader step-by-step through the applications of the CEM (an open model). The model is presented in a series of events. After each, there is a specific element for evaluation and feedback which allows trainers to constantly evaluate their programs. A major emphasis of the CEM is the involvement of other people in the organization in addition to the designer, the supervisors, the managers, and the learners. The author provides an important chapter on why everyone in an organization should understand the importance of the productivity benefits of training programs.