Executive development programs are big business, but too many fail to yield meaningful results. Here, Leroy et al explain what makes for a quality program and outline the questions leaders and program developers should be asking to determine an leadership development programs' (LDPs) effectiveness. A leadership development program should be fundamentally about the growth of participants. An effective one will increase participants' knowledge, skills, or abilities. Any evaluation of an LDP should start with its vision: what capabilities or qualities the program aims to develop in participants, why this is important, and how it will address specific developmental needs.
Leroy et al. (Sun,) studied this question.