Custom E-Learning Training & LMS Solutions Kineo

Free Thinking

The Benefits of E-Learning

We are grateful to Dave Boggs, the founder and CEO of SyberWorks, for his latest article on the benefits of e-learning. It is a very thoughtful and well researched list. We have set out his key points below, the full article is here.

Strategic Advantages

Creating a Global Workforce - Web-based training is a powerful instrument for developing a global labor force. Web-based training can deliver custom, sophisticated instruction to employees all around the planet. (2)

Reacting to Abbreviated Product Development Cycles - Companies that create today’s best of breed products and services are now introducing their wares more quickly into the marketplace. The use of web-based learning management systems allows your organization’s training function to keep pace with the market. Web-based training can be used to provide the needed instruction without taking workers away from their daily responsibilities. (3)

Managing Flat Organizations - Down and right sized organizations have now become the norm in today’s business landscape. As a result, line managers have multiple responsibilities and are severely time impoverished. E-Learning can help by delivering training for those areas which line managers are normally responsible, such as desktop application training and product training. They are then freed up to tackle other pressing priorities in their workday. (4)

Adjusting to Employee Wants and Needs - Economic and demographic shifts has fueled the growth of telecommuting, virtual offices, job-sharing, and flextime. Delivering training via the Internet overcomes the obstacles imposed by the exigencies of a transient workforce. (5)

Facilitating a Contingent Labor Force - Contingent workers, such as temporaries, consultants, retirees who work part-time, the self-employed has increased dramatically over the last decade. Companies and organizations have become more reliant on contingent workforces to deal with peak labor demands. E-Learning solutions and web-based learning management systems are invaluable tools to train and manage this unique labor force. (6)

Retaining Valued Workers - Education has become a critical lynch pin in a company’s or organization’s worker benefits portfolio. Workers in today’s new economy are not as afraid to move to a new position if they feel their interests and career welfare are better provided for in a different environment. Web-based training programs that offer certifications, college and graduate school education, and other important job skills become powerful incentives for an employee to stay. (7)

Increasing Productivity and Profitability - E-learning programs and training increase employee knowledge and skill levels. As they become better at their jobs, they sell more products, reduce waste, are more productive and efficient. An educated, well-trained workforce is the main driver to profitability for today’s businesses. (8)

Tactical Advantages

Flexibility to Learn Anytime, Anywhere - Learners can access courses and content from their office, home, or hotel room from any spot around the globe. (9)

Reduce Travel and Related Costs - Save on hotels; airfare, meals, and other travel expenses associate with traditional onsite training. (10)

Tools for Tracking, Updating, and Managing Training – Web-based learning management systems make it easy to track, update, and manage online learners. Learning management systems facilitate, reporting, succession planning, and workforce development from one, centralized, web-based source. (11)

Affordable Per-Student Costs - Almost every computer today can be set up with a modem and free browser software with which to access the Internet, so set up costs are relatively low. (12)

Just-in-Time Learning - Online learners can take training just before they need it rather than enrolling in a program months before they need the training or refresher class. (13)

Making Updates Easy - Web-based training can be updated quickly and easily, so there is no time lag or extra reprinting cost. (14)

Administer Competency and Compliance Management - Multiple spreadsheets across various managers’ computers make competency management and compliance management a tedious and time consuming task. A centralized, web-based learning management system aggregates all the data into one location were all the necessary managers can access the information when they need it. (15)

Training Delivery Advantages

Consistent Delivery - Web-based training is delivered uniformly in a consistent framework, which increases understanding and absorption of the material. (16)

“Learning Object” Architecture Supports on Demand; Personalized Learning - Web-based training is designed and developed so content can be chunked into discrete knowledge objects to provide greater flexibility. Students can access these objects through pre-set learning paths, use skills assessments to create individualized study plans, or use search engines to locate exact topics. (17)

Interactive Content, Graphics, and Animations - Interactive content, graphics, and animations make lessons standout and help imprint the material on the student’s mind. (18)

Customized Material - Content can be customized to meet the training objectives of a specific program quickly and easily. (19)

Self-Paced Programs - Students can learn at a pace that works for their individual learning style and life circumstances. (20)

Infrastructure Advantages

Leverage Existing Infrastructure - Web-based training makes use of already existing infrastructure such as computers, servers, intranets, etc. There is no addition outlay for hardware or capitol assets. (21)

Controllable and Secure Access – Web-based learning management systems can be easily configured to secure and monitor access. (22)

Private Networks and Secure Server Installation – Web-based learning management systems can have greater security because they can be installed on private networks and secure servers. (23)

Linking with other Training Systems - E-learning programs can link with other human resource development systems or training systems. (24)

ROI Comparison of Traditional Training vs. E-Learning (25)

The return-on-investment for e-Learning can be 50%-60% greater than for traditional training.

See the detailed calculations at the original article.

Dave’s Bibliography

(1)“2003 e-Learning Survey”, Taylor Nelson Sofres plc, London, United Kingdom, 2003.