IT Lesson

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"Introducing the concept of life-long learning is a massive undertaking for most organisations. It needs a major shift in culture, requiring commitment, careful implementation and ongoing support to be successful. George Eybers, chairman of Skills2learn, says there are 12 basic steps to ensuring the success of an e-learning implementation."

1. Secure upper and middle management commitment, support and active participation.
   Form a team of people that represents the whole company.
2. Install and test software components of the e-learning programme (LMS, EIS, and courseware library).
3. Employee information (in LMS/EIS) establishes the backbone of the e-learning process management system.
4. Establish internal e-learning experts in each department.
5. The CEO should outline the strategic objectives behind the training programme during the launch.
6. The implementation team must work with department managers to develop local level plans and timetables.
7. Specific e-learning personnel appraisal objectives are developed and formalised with each employee.
8. Incentive programmes are developed and publicised to all employees.
   Ongoing monitoring of EIS and LMS information.
9. Employee feedback.
10. Management - monitors system key variables (from LMS/EIS) and takes action where indicated to ensure there is ongoing progress.

"Any organisation that follows these 12 steps to a blended learning implementation will increase its return on investment, and realise an edge over its competitors through the improved skills of its staff."

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• MYTH 1: THE ATTRACTION IS THE PRICE TAG
• MYTH 2: THE SAVINGS ARENT REAL
• MYTH 3: THERES NO SUPPORT
• MYTH 4: ITS A LEGAL MINEFIELD
• MYTH 5: OPEN SOURCE ISNT FOR MISSION-CRITICAL APPLICATIONS
• MYTH 6: OPEN SOURCE ISNT READY FOR THE DESKTOP

" (Conclusion)...Is open source right for every organization? In the end, argues Andy Mulholland, chief technology officer for Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, its a question of attitude. "The arguments for and against open-source software often get very trivialized," he says. "Its not a technology issue; its a business issue to do with externalization." Companies with an external focus, he says, which are used to working collaboratively with other organizations, and perhaps are already using collaborative technologies, stand to gain much more from open source than companies with an internal focus, which see the technology in terms of cost savings... "

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• Gotcha # 1: Where?s the Data? Can you get it? (Define your reports up front & get quality data)
• Gotcha #2: Extensive Customizations (Risk of Extensive Customizations such as 1. Lengthens the implementation by months or more, 2. Often costs more than they are really worth in terms of business value 3. Makes upgrading difficult if not impossible without "re-doing" the work).
• Gotcha #3: Lengthy Projects (The most effective way to deliver value from your investment is to get the system up and running as soon as possible)
• Gotcha #4: Conflicting Requirements (Pleasing Everyone Pleases No One).

"Producing a clear project plan and ensuring tight control of the requirements will help you avoid most, if not all, of these issues."