A computer-based data processing system is designed for assessing the level of effectiveness of knowledge transfer directed to defined areas of expertise. Sets of quality indicators are stored in a database of the data processing system. Each set of quality indicators is assigned to one of the defined areas of expertise. For an instance of knowledge transfer (i.e. a course or a consulting program), selected areas of expertise are specified from the defined areas of expertise (i.e. training or consulting modules). Rating values are received in the data processing system for the quality indicators of the sets assigned to the selected areas of expertise. The rating values are stored in the database, each of the rating values being assigned to one of the quality indicators of a set assigned to one of the selected areas of expertise. The level of effectiveness of the instance of knowledge transfer directed to the selected areas of expertise is computed from the rating values assigned to the quality indicators of the sets assigned to the selected areas of expertise. For the instance of knowledge transfer, expected time and cost savings are computed from the level of effectiveness. The time savings are weighted by a student's competence level prior to the knowledge transfer and by a student's assessment of the quality of the knowledge transfer.