About Dave

Dave Smith founded Performance Dynamics Systems as a result of his experience as a training manager for Hewlett-Packard and Agilent Technologies, two Fortune 500 companies. In his role as training manager Dave developed or procured many training courses that were focused on the right business needs and were well received by participants, but generated no perceivable improvement in business results. Based on his experience, Dave came to the conclusion that training alone was insufficient to create behavioral change and improve business results. Puzzled by this discovery, Dave sought answers. He earned a Master's degree in Organizational Design and Effectiveness and another Master's degree in Human Development, then began his doctoral studies in Organizational Development. In his studies Dave found that his surmise was correct--training usually does not achieve the desired results. American industries spend up to $100 billion on training and development activities each year. However, research on training outcomes reveals that there is little evidence that the money spent on these activities translates into changes in individuals' behaviors or improved organizational performance. Industry studies estimate that less than 10 percent of the costs of training result in changed behaviors.

Dave's personal experience and studies led him to believe that the difference between success and failure with development efforts reside in the concept of metanoia, a word meaning "a fundamental change in one's beliefs: conversion, rebirth, regeneration." If a person or organization is unchanged by a development process, then that development process will probably not be a success. When Dave's entire training and development department was dissolved in a downsizing at Agilent Technologies, he took advantage of the buyout package and started Performance Dynamics Systems. He became an affiliate of Resource Associates Corporation after evaluating their methodology and development materials, and finding both consonant with his philosophy of human and organizational development. Affiliation with Resource Associates Corporation also gives Dave access to a nationwide network of like-minded consultants who use a consistent methodology and development materials.

In addition to his work with Performance Dynamics Systems, Dave is a highly-rated adjunct professor at Franklin University. He is a graduate of the Resource Associates Coaching Academy. Dave is also certified in a number of assessment tools, including DISC Behavioral Styles; Workplace Motivators; Personal Talents and Skills Inventory; DNA; and TriMetrix (all from Target Training International) and Attribute Index from InnerMetrix.

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