After a manager or HRD professional has identified the program objectives, a series of decisions must be made regarding the development and delivery of the program. One of those decisions is whether to design the program internally, purchase it from an outside vendor, or use some combination. Many resources are available to assist trainers in the design and delivery of new programs. And, many services are available through outside vendors or consultants.

Many consulting firms, educational institutions, professional societies, governmental agencies, and nonprofit community-based organizations offer training programs and information to interested organizations. The American Society for Training and Development, as well as T&D and Training magazines, are useful places to begin a search for external training providers. Once an organization decides to purchase a program from an outside source, a vendor must be chosen. One way to do this is to find a match between a vendor’s product and an organization’s needs and objectives. When organizations elect to purchase training programs, they should first conduct a needs assessment.