Corporate organisations have been urged to create learning to enhance the competitive advantage of both the business and individual employees.
Speakers at the July edition of the monthly Information Value Chain (IVC) Breakfast Forum organised by Digital Jewels, a Lagos-based information technology company highlighted the potencies of such learning environment.
Mr. Shehu Garba, manager, Shell Petroleum Sub-Saharan Africa Learning in his presentation titled, ‘Learning in the Midst of Chaos’ noted that learning can be deployed for cutting-edge advantage in the competitive business environment for individual employees and the organisation.
He explained that learning thrives in the midst of chaos, when it aligns with business goals; when there is a clear link with the DNA of the organization, and when effective structures are in place to address employee and organisational competences.
Using Shell as a case-study, he said the company combines individual capability and the organisation capability in the deployment of its learning programme for the overall benefit and growth of the business and the individual employee.
According to him, “the environment and the organisational culture are very critical to the acceptance and success of the e-learning process; it is therefore imperative that organisations create an environment where people can come together and learn.”
Garba described some of the learning tools and knowledge sharing enablers in his organisation such as Shell blogs, e-mails, Team Wiki and Twitter.
On her part, Mrs. Adedoyin Odunfa, managing director and chief executive officer, Digital Jewels, in her presentation titled “E-Learning: the Silver Bullet?” described E-learning as an umbrella set of internet technologies designed to deliver a broad arrays of solutions that enhance knowledge and performance. It is a new way of enabling, extending and enhancing learning.
She explained that effective E-learning process requires a course curriculum and delivery system that will enable strategic business goals and need; Match organizational structure; align with technological structure and consider the competitive landscape of the industry in which an organisation operates.
Plotting a pragmatic roadmap for E-learning, Odunfa said an organization needs to create and communicate a meaningful business case that secures top management commitment and motivates learners, managers and others; Pull together a well-respected & effective team to champion, plan for and support the effort and Develop a compelling vision of what e-learning offers.
Other imperative measure, according to her include, “Develop & implement a change communication program to reach all; recruit a wide base of change agents at all levels of the company to help to communicate the vision, remove obstacles, solve problems and maintain enthusiasm; Aim for quick wins to demonstrate benefits; Build on early successes in a planned & co-ordinated way; and finally make e-learning an integral part of the organisational culture rather than just another option.”
Highlighting the key success factors for the e-learning initiative in any organisation, Odunfa reiterated that the process must have an internal champions, “Be intensely marketed & promoted; Be tied to performance reviews; Be incentive-sized; Not only be taken at the desk and Be integrated into the companies ecosystem. She further reiterated that E-learning involves a Need Assessment, Programme Design, Curriculum Design, Delivery System Design, Programme Approval, Communication/Marketing, Programme Delivery, Evaluation and On-going Support and Development.
The Information Value Chain (IVC) Forum is a monthly gathering of ICT, Project Management, e-business and Learning and Development professionals and provides a platform for knowledge sharing, information exchange and networking for executives as they climb the corporate ladder.