After All the Research is Done: Now What?

After thousands of responses and cross-tabulations, what does it all mean?

We embarked on the Annual Fact Book with one goal in mind: To quantify what our industry is doing and benchmark these practices against the general enterprise.We knew how innovative the e-learning industry was, and this data proves it. However, there is so much more to learn.

Lesson 1: Despite budget issues, enterprises are still invest in improving skills of their workers. Soft skills, management and leadership skills are of utmost importance — after compliance — for private and public sectors.

Lesson 2: More technology is in our future, with on-demand, always-on being most valued.

Lesson 3: Learning systems will be expected to do more, and integrate with other enterprise software. These systems are facilitating learning and this is how buyers, users and technologists know them.

Lesson 4: When it comes to buying solutions, you are frustrated. After 10 years, LMS providers are still averaging a C+ in satisfaction. We need to do better. It starts with involving vendors, HR and IT from the start.

Lesson 5: Traditional training and HR development teams need to build skills in the new technology rich learning and development space. If you don’t have the skills, get them.

Lesson 6: Everyone is measuring impact, so you need to as well.

Lesson 7: Collaboration tools are wide-spread, facilitating training on the go. Social learning will facilitate “right now” access to experts, content and communities. It is not “if,” it is “when” and “how.”

Lesson 8: Technology is cheaper, more available and soon in the “clouds,” yet investments remain level year to year. Users are getting much more value for the investments.

Lesson 9: Public sector uses solutions differently than private sector. Usage is heavy, more siloed and job specific.

Lesson 10: Never stop learning, as technology grows obsolete every 18 months. This is our challenge.

—The author is group publisher of Elearning! and Government Elearning! magazines. Reach her by e-mail at cupton@2elearning.com.

If you did not receive our Annual Fact Book & Buyers' Guide, you may purchase it from the resources center. The edition features studies on E-learning usage, LMS buyer survey, Enterprise Collaboration trends, salary surveys and HR and Talent Mangement Trends.