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The Critical Elements of Implementing Learning and Training Programs

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Kevin Costner was told in Field of Dreams, “build it and they will come”. This mindset may work for an Iowa corn farmer and a baseball team, but it will NOT work for Learning and Training Programs. As much as we would like a magic voice to tell us how to successfully implement an online learning program, it is extremely likely that it will not happen.

For the past 13 years, Knowledge Anywhere has witnessed or supported hundreds of organizations deploy learning programs. We have witnessed the whole spectrum of success. We have seen learning initiatives flop as the “build it and they will come” model was followed and we have seen fast starts with usage dropping off after a couple months, but we have also experienced perfect implementation that has resulted in the learning programs exceeding the business objectives. From all these experiences, we established the elements of the best demonstrated practices to ensure the success of your training and education programs.

To successfully obtain the short term traction and long term results you desire from an online learning program, these are the elements that will prove paramount to your success:

Effective Communication

• Realize that if the target audience does not know about the training, they will not participate, and the desired results will not be realized. (simple, but the basic concept is sometimes lost).
• Over communicate the online learning with references on related web sites, newsletters, email campaigns, etc.
• Everyone who interacts with the target audience should be aware of the program (i.e. Field Sales, Inside Sales, and Call Center teams).
• Use physical media to highlight the availability of training (i.e. getting started cards, posters, mouse pads, table tents in conference rooms etc.)

Setting Goals

• Have obtainable and measurable goals for the online learning center (i.e. 1,000 new users by March 25; 5,000 users by April 20, and 3,000 completed courses by July 20).
• Measure and communicate progress on a monthly basis.

Access and Ease of Use

• Create easy access to the training (minimize barriers).
• Enable easy visibility for learners to see to the courses they need to take as well as completed courses.

Substantial Content

• The learning site needs to have relevant and engaging content.
• A new course or updated content should be available on a regular basis. Take this opportunity to communicate the additional material to all learners.

Secondary Support

• Connect the online training with in-person training, national meetings, and webinars.
• Obtain senior leadership support and communicate results.

Incentivize and Promote Engagement

• Highlight participation success.
• Think about a fun contest to jump start the program.
• Highlight performance success based upon learning participation.
• Respond immediately to feedback or suggestions.

Last but certainly not least, an extremely important part of this whole process is having great help and guidance along the way. Companies like Knowledge Anywhere have the skills and experience to make your learning program the best it can be, but only you can make sure that it really takes hold and makes a difference in your company. It is critical you partner with a firm that is not only concerned about selling you an LMS or building courses, but also shares your interest in ensuring the learning system has the business impact you require.


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