40
Learning Management
Feature
Keeping tabs
on the training
As e-learning technologies continue to develop
apace with the emergence of Web 2.0, the
business need to control, track and manage
learning remains as critical as ever. Despite the
advent of new concepts such as user-created
content and SaaS, many of us are still focused on
the more fundamental task of implementing effective
learning management, explains Martin Belton
O
rganisations that base services and trainers, books and projectors Although the initial set up and purchase can
products on the supply or adoption • Providing access to e-learning involve significant investment, the return on
of knowledge almost always • Reporting that facilitates the evaluation investment (ROI) must be considered.
recognise that investing in learning is of learning and performance
essential to improve business performance. • Measurement of competencies Calculating ROI is not, unfortunately, an
But this is not always the case in other exact science, but most L&D departments
organisations. They will see the relevance Such functionality is not merely a means will argue that they would not be able
of investing in new equipment or processes to an end, however. The business benefits to manage an effective e-learning
to achieve objectives, but are less likely to that an LMS can provide have a greater programme without the support of their
perceive investment in learning as anything impact than a long list of software LMS. Wider business benefits include
but a cost. features. Key benefits include: better management of resources, faster
implementation of projects and better
But if it is possible to demonstrate that • Reduced costs of delivering and information to help meet business critical
better training solutions can provide managing training regulatory requirements. A good LMS
direct business benefits, then it is also • Optimisation of learning expenditure facilitates the better utilisation of budgets
possible to change the way investment and usage of learning resources and the opportunity to deliver more
in learning is perceived. This doesn’t just • Rapidly deployed, targeted training effective training where it is needed,
mean demonstrating an improvement in across widely distributed organisations with the LMS enabling users to allocate
the quality and management of training • Achievement and maintenance of resources more effectively, by keeping
programmes. It also demands that learning compliance requirements track and helping to distribute them
solutions are closely linked to business where they are most needed. Refer to
objectives and learning programmes are So, should you buy an LMS if you do not figure 1 for a useful checklist of 12 key
tracked and measured for effectiveness. already have one? Bersin & Associates points that will help you implement your
believes there are a number of core LMS successfully.
Business benefits reasons that encourage organisations to
It is here that the learning management purchase an LMS including: managing Managing multiple systems
system (LMS) comes into its own as a training administration; managing and At the other end of the scale from the
tool for recording and measuring spend, deploying e-learning; consolidating training non LMS users, we have those who are in
achievement and progress of training. information within a single system; aligning the somewhat dubious position of having
LMSs today represent well-developed training processes with general business more than one training system. This isn’t
technology with functions that include: and HR processes; implementing skills and as uncommon as some might think. It also
competency management programmes; presents a different set of challenges in the
• Tracking classroom training and reducing training costs and meeting control, tracking and management of an
• Managing learning resources such as regulatory compliance requirements. organisation’s learning. Multiple systems
learningmagazine.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64