The secret to effective organizational learning isn't fancy technology

Dive Brief:

The 2016 Brandon Hall Group Learning Technology Study highlights the direction that organizations are taking in terms of learning and development programs for 2017. Their findings indicate that one-third of the companies surveyed don’t have any learning technology in place.
Of those with some form of standardized technology for learning (46%), they see an increase in productivity and engagement from employees.
David Wentworth, who writes at Training Magazine and is the Principal Learning Analyst for Brandon Hall Group, a human capital management research and advisory services firm, says that "the No. 1 learning and development priority for organizations through 2017 is the exploration of new and emerging technologies.” In fact, this has become more critical than linking learning to performance or finding ways to measure learning to company outcomes.

Dive Insight:

Companies that have a strategy in place to handle employee learning and development are better prepared for the challenges of the future. Those that recognize the value of emerging technologies, such as mobile-friendly learning applications, learning communities, video components, collaborative learning environments and coaching and mentoring programs tend to be leaders.

Wentworth points out that, “organizations with a more advanced technology strategy see better results.” Therefore, once a company meets a standardized level of employee training and development, they will be more likely to seek out advanced learning platforms and content by as much as 52% of the time. They are open to technology switches if there is enough buy-in from company leaders. However, there has to be a strategy in place to make sure this new learning platform doesn’t fall short of expectations.

Instead of an immediate view, Wentworth recommends that companies look to the future. He advises that companies develop a strategy with a focus on choosing the right tools; aligning the technology with results to achieve the right results; and tapping into technology to expand the organization’s learning overall with blended online and classroom learning initiatives.