Measuring the financial impact of management development has historically been tricky for Learning & Development (L&D) teams. In a landmark study independently evaluated by researchers at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Notion’s STAR® Manager programme was rigorously analysed across 62 organisations in 14 sectors. The evaluation verified an average 74x return on investment (ROI), a 70% increase in the time leaders and managers spend coaching their teams in the flow of work, a 6x increase in staff retention, and 20% of managerial capacity reclaimed.
For decades, evaluating management training meant relying on post-course happy sheets or subjective self-assessments. While managers might leave a two-day workshop feeling inspired, corporate boards need harder facts: Did day-to-day behaviour actually change, and what was the financial return on investment?
To answer this question, Notion’s STAR® Manager programme was subjected to a major government-backed study independently evaluated by researchers at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
The study evaluated the practical impact of embedding the STAR® model (Stop, Think, Ask, Result) as a scalable management operating system across 62 participating organisations over a six-month period. The result is the most comprehensive, peer-reviewed dataset on line manager development ever published in the world.
Key Research Findings: The Data Behind STAR® Manager
| Measured Outcome | LSE Evaluation Result | Operational Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Investment (ROI) | 74x average learner ROI | Rapid, measurable financial returns generated directly from coaching conversations. |
| Staff Retention | Up to 6x increase | Drastic reduction in employee turnover, recruitment agency fees, and onboarding costs. |
| Managerial Capacity | 20% time reclaimed | Managers win back 20% or more of their time to focus on strategic, higher-value priorities. |
| Coaching Frequency | 70% increase | Line managers shift permanently from command-and-control to daily coaching in the flow of work. |
| Skill Competencies | 9 out of 9 areas improved | Statistically significant improvement across every measured management skill area. |
How Operational Coaching® Delivers a 74x Return on Investment
- Replacing Outdated Habits with the STAR® Model: Traditional command-and-control habits turn line managers into operational bottlenecks. By applying the STAR® model (Stop, Think, Ask, Result), leaders stop taking on their team’s problems. The LSE study verified that managers win back 20% or more of their working week—freeing up vital hours previously wasted on micromanagement and unnecessary firefighting.
- Slashing Recruitment Expenditure: According to research by BambooHR, 58% of employees who left their jobs in the last year say their line manager was the main reason they left. By adopting the STAR® operating system, managers increase engagement, motivation and job satisfaction. The resulting increase in staff retention saves organisations tens of thousands of pounds in recruitment agency fees and lost productivity.
- Generating Value During the Programme: Unlike traditional classroom courses where learning application happens after the course ends, STAR® Manager uses practical ‘workplace missions’. Learners apply their new skills directly in live operational situations and customer and supplier negotiations, while still completing the programme.
Why Peer-Reviewed Evidence Matters for L&D Procurement
When presenting a business case for leadership development to finance directors and procurement boards, anecdotal promises fall short.
The LSE evaluation gives L&D leaders a peer-reviewed, academically verified foundation. It proves that adopting the STAR® model as your organisation’s management operating system is far more than a cultural initiative—it is a high-yield commercial investment that pays for itself many times over.
Are you building a business case for manager development? Request a demo of the STAR® Manager programme to see how Operational Coaching® delivers verified ROI in the daily flow of work.
You can learn more about the LSE study here and read the full published academic paper here.
Next Steps
About STAR® Manager and Operational Coaching®
Operational Coaching® is the only scientifically proven advance to coaching and management in the workplace that is guaranteed to increase engagement, productivity, retention and performance.
The STAR® Manager programme is the only certified programme on embedding an Operational Coaching® style of management and leadership.
We’d love to talk to you about how to upskill your leaders and managers in as little as 6-months. Schedule a no-obligation 15-minute chat today: