Evaluation of an adoption model with a vertically integrated company: A case study on a Nutrition EDGE workshop

Summary

The purpose of the project was to evaluate the customisation of an EDGE training package to a vertically integrated company and how it could be modified to increase adoption of skills and technology on-property and across all levels of management.

The Nutrition EDGE package is usually delivered to participants who come from a diverse range of backgrounds and levels of knowledge and experience, so there is variation in the level of adoption.

This workshop was condensed from three days into a two-day workshop and delivered on-property to Stanbroke staff, including station managers and head stockmen, but also to head office management.

Participants completed pre-workshop and post-workshop skills audits to establish and measure levels of confidence, knowledge and skills, and management practices in nutrition, to tailor delivery of future workshops, to evaluate the changes three months post-workshop, and to get feedback on what further assistance and follow-up training they required.

The feedback and outcomes for the pre-workshop and post-workshop skills audits have formed the basis for recommendations for more flexible and effective delivery of the EDGE training packages, ongoing training and assistance with practical implementation of nutritional principles including synergies with formalised coaching groups and follow-up consultancy work.
The EDGE package for many participants is the first step in identifying nutritional priorities by increasing their technical understanding of, and practical skills in, ruminant nutrition.  This increased understanding provides a platform to seek further advice and assistance in implementing nutritional management changes, and to identify skills that need further development both formally and informally, as well as additional training requirements as they relate to nutrition.

A key feature of this Nutrition EDGE workshop was the use of pre-workshop and post-workshop skills audits that each participant had to complete.  The pre-workshop skills audit was completed electronically by the workshop participants and returned to the presenter.  The pre-workshop skills audit provided the presenter with an indication of:

• Each of the participants' confidence, skills and knowledge in cattle nutrition;
• Current nutritional management practices on each of the stations.

The post-workshop skills audit measured changes both quantitatively and qualitatively, three months following the workshop.  The audit was deliberately conducted three months after the workshop to allow participants enough time to:

• Evaluate what they learned in the context of the properties they worked on and their role within the Company;
• Implement some of what they learned in their role with Stanbroke; and
• Gauge their retention of knowledge and skills. 

It also provided them with an opportunity to evaluate the workshop overall and provide valuable feedback on the workshop content, format and delivery.


The post-workshop skills audit more specifically:

• Measured the change in participants' confidence, skills and knowledge in cattle nutrition;
• Identified any changes in nutritional management practices on the stations and the degree to which they were adopted;
• Enabled participants to identify where they wanted additional knowledge, skills and assistance in nutrition;
• Other areas that the participants wanted more training in that were related to nutrition.

There was benefit in having senior management staff attend the Nutrition EDGE workshop along with the station management and head stockmen because it provided them with an opportunity to gain more understanding about the challenges on the stations as well as a greater appreciation and understanding of the complexities of the nutritional management of cattle on the properties and the rationale behind the management and nutritional budgets for the stations.  In order to include all levels of management and staff at a common in-house workshop, there have to be clear guidelines for the workshop to ensure that everyone feels safe to ask questions, discuss issues and participate.