The Benefits of eLearning for Your Business

By Shannelle Blair, Architecting the Enterprise

Successful companies have become more innovative in their approach to decisions regarding investments, including employee development. Business leaders realise that intellectual capital is now considered a vital value creator in modern day organisations and due to the ever changing business environment it is key to promote a proficient and ongoing learning culture:

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” (Alvin Toffler).

Much has been said of the benefits that elearning or self study offers the individual. This article considers the benefits to the organisation. In particular, how do organisations enable and encourage ongoing professional development – without sacrificing the quality and efficiency of their business operations, while driving down costs? Online learning offers a solution.

This diagram allows us to identify the benefits of eLearning for the Organisation in 3 main areas. Cost reductions, increased productivity and the development of skills vital for continued business success.

Lets us consider some of these points

Cost Reductions

Reduced cost of delivery. Savings are made through the elimination of costs associated with more traditional training services.

Reduced learning time. Online learning is an effective way for an organization to provide its employees with the tools and skills needed to enhance their performance, while also providing an environment in which they can do so during down times at the company and within their individual job roles. No longer will training need to be restricted to when a significant group of employees can be spared from their daily roles.

Increased Productivity

Faster delivery of learning. Classroom based learning is restricted by the availability of classrooms, trainers and how many employees can be taken off projects and business activities. Elearning allows materials to be accessed anywhere, anytime, by all of the employees needing training at times that are convenient for the business.

More consistent learning.  Online learning ensures that all employees have access to the same information, and more importantly, at the same level of quality. Elearning provides a standardised process and consistency in the delivery of content.

More accessible learning. Having access to material anywhere, anytime during the course provides the flexability and convenience that complements business needs with the persons availability.

Managed Learning. Online learning provides companies control of the skill development path for individual learners. There is a growing trend to move away from the historic approach of ‘one size fits all’, employees are able to tailor the amount of time spent on each topic, based on their prior knowledge of it. Further to this, Companies can track and assess the learners progress via learning management systems (LMS).

Organisational development

We will highlight 2 points in this subsection as we have spoken much about the other points noted in the diagram

Creation of Knowledge and learning networks.By providing an environment (forum or wiki) where your employees are able to naturally discuss and share training, experiences and issues as a result from the elearning– they are able to share and gain knowledge related to their practical work from one another encouraging knowledge sharing.

Knowledge management. Tools for knowledge, and learning networks for collaboration and conversation, allow companies to capture and deseminate a wealth of valuable organisational knowledge. Companies can also guide these groups to practices and value added information that will ensure that the development of skills is aligned with the business strategy

Architecting the Enterprise recognises the value that eLearning can provide a business. In keeping with this we offer several online and elearning courses. Much of our current offering is focused on TOGAF® and subsequent training around this Framework. To find out how we can assist your business in taking full advantage of elearning please contact the team at [email protected]