For Business Process & Applications Professionals

How Kelly Services Implemented Onboarding To Retain Quality Workers

by Claire Schooley, October 22, 2009

Kelly Services did not have a formal onboarding program. New hires spent a few hours hearing about the company, its policies and procedures, and then learned on the job — some succeeded, others didn't. Even with good recruiting, succession planning, and . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

The Millennials Are Here! Are You Prepared?

by Claire Schooley, October 8, 2009

The Millennials, born between 1980 and 2000, are now entering the workplace. They bring sharp technology skills, a desire for challenging work, flexibility, mobility, and an ability to work well in teams. These new employees often meet a seasoned workforce . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

The State Of Workforce Technology Adoption: US Benchmark 2009

Workforce Technology Adoption By Information Workers

by Ted Schadler, October 7, 2009

This is a graphical analysis of Forrester's Workforce Technographics® US Benchmark Survey, Q2 2009. This analysis is based on an online survey of 2,001 US information workers (iWorkers) at organizations with 100 or more employees. It is Forrester's . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

Web Conferencing 2009 Market Overview

Pick A Portfolio Of Providers To Meet All Your Conferencing Scenarios

by Ted Schadler, Claire Schooley, August 27, 2009

Web conferencing has become a key real-time collaboration priority for most enterprises. IT is working hard to pick the right suppliers, negotiate the right price, and drive adoption. But the market remains fragmented, pricing is often mysterious and . . .

For Technology Sales Enablement Professionals

Hot Banking Tech Companies To Watch In 2009: Q2 Update

by Ellen Carney, June 17, 2009

The banking industry continues to suffer from the global recession and backlash from last fall's financial crisis. While it's tempting to believe that bank-related technology investment is dead, financial services firms are actively looking for specialized . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

Questions Senior Executives Ask About eLearning Specifics

by Claire Schooley, June 10, 2009

Executives today know that business depends on well-skilled and knowledgeable employees who make the right decisions, work effectively and efficiently, and keep their skills up-to-date. Especially in today's economy, executives want to make successful . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

Case Study: Black & Decker Fuses eLearning And Traditional Methods To Achieve Learning Goals

by Claire Schooley, April 30, 2009

Successful Black & Decker sales staff need a combination of leadership skills, product knowledge skills, and hands-on experience. The sales training group, Black & Decker University, provides a blended approach with online training, instructor . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

Get Serious About Informal Learning

by Claire Schooley, April 22, 2009

Formal learning works for 20% of learning needs, while informal learning handles the other 80%. In the past, informal learning was turning to ask your teammate a question. Today, the rise of Web 2.0 technologies and social media — and a growing cadre . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

The ROI Of eLearning

A Total Economic Impact™ Analysis Uncovers Big Benefits From Learning Online

by Claire Schooley, April 13, 2009

Online learning earns companies a positive return on investment (ROI) in less than a year. If you have a business that is spread across many locations, it makes good business sense to implement an online learning program as a replacement for some face-to-face . . .

For B2B Market Research Professionals

Demand Insights: Serious Games Break Through

Player Interest Points To Game-Market Opportunities

by TJ Keitt, March 11, 2009

Cisco Systems, IBM, and Microsoft all have made early investments in serious games. Whether or not these tech titans are being prudent depends on the answer to two critical questions: Are the games effective? And do players really want to play them? Forrester's . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

How To Maintain Your Learning Program In A Down Economy

by Claire Schooley, February 12, 2009

The world's economic woes present new opportunities for innovative forms of learning using technology that many organizations already have: informal learning, eLearning, and blended learning. Shrinking budgets make learning through technology very attractive. . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Business Process And Applications Pros Should Embrace Informal Learning Methods

by Sharyn Leaver, February 9, 2009

Continuously building knowledge is critical to improving the quality of your workforce, which is necessary now more than ever. But uncertain economic times mean human resources (HR) professionals face difficult decisions around managing the workforce . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Topic Overview: Human Resource Management

by Zach Thomas, Paul D. Hamerman, Claire Schooley, January 21, 2009

The most important investments that businesses and government organizations make are in their people. In addition to direct expenditures on compensation and benefits, organizations invest in technology, outsourcing, professional services, and learning . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

Informal Methods Challenge Corporate Learning

Learning Organizations Must Incorporate Informal Tools Into Their Total Learning Programs

by Claire Schooley, November 12, 2008

There is a new employee learning paradigm. The formal course with multiple lessons is still around and will always have a place in the learning hierarchy, but informal learning with "knowledge on-the-go" is already here — and it's getting stronger. With . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

Topic Overview: Must-Read I&KM Research For An Economic Downturn

by Matthew Brown, Connie Moore, Rob Karel, October 29, 2008

Financial bailouts, downward consumer spending, and roller-coaster stock markets are starting to put pressure on information and knowledge management (I&KM) professionals. Will industry consolidation mean gut-wrenching systems consolidation? How will . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

Alcoa Employees Access eTools For Fast Learning

Bridging Formal And Informal Learning

by Claire Schooley, October 21, 2008

Employees drive corporate informal learning. They use social networking tools, intranet search tools, or specific knowledge sites for short information or learning objects. Alcoa, a leading aluminum products company, has an eTools informal learning offering . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

For Stickier Learning, Try A Dose Of Serious Gaming

by Claire Schooley, September 19, 2008

When it comes to effective teaching, it's better to engage all of the senses. Interactive learning activities like simulations, immersive learning, and serious gaming put employees in virtual yet authentic situations where they can learn the skills and . . .

For Vendor Strategy Professionals

It's Time To Take Games Seriously

Video Games Provide An Effective Way To Reach Customers And Employees

by TJ Keitt, Paul Jackson, August 19, 2008

Serious gaming, or the use of games and gaming dynamics for non-entertainment purposes, is poised to take off thanks to the rise of Technology Populism, the greening of IT, and the emergence of the Millennials. Opportunity comes from many sectors, but . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

Learn From A Community: The eLearning Guild

by Claire Schooley, June 24, 2008

The eLearning Guild's developers, trainers, and managers have access to an inexpensive collegial community of practice that offers materials, ideas, and thought leadership. The six-year-old guild, which just signed its 30,000th member, has grown into . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

How To Create A Comprehensive, High-Impact Learning Strategy

by Claire Schooley, May 6, 2008

Training departments in companies of all sizes are revamping their training and learning programs. Why? Learning organizations must develop employee-centric, business-driven learning strategies that guide the successful deployment of learning that is . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

The Forrester Wave™: Enterprise Learning Management Suites, Q1 2008

Saba, SumTotal Systems Tie For Lead With Plateau Systems Hot On Their Heels

by Claire Schooley, February 12, 2008

In Forrester's 90-criteria evaluation of learning management system (LMS) vendors, we found that Saba, SumTotal Systems, and Plateau Systems lead the pack by providing feature-rich offerings and serving a broad international customer base. GeoLearning . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

Put The Right People In Place For A Successful Learning Management System Implementation

by Claire Schooley, October 24, 2007

After choosing a Learning Management System (LMS), the selection team can breathe a sigh of relief that the hardest work is done. Wrong! A strong LMS implementation team is now critical to ensure the business impact expected of the LMS investment. The . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

How To Select A Learning Management System

Planning Is Critical To Success

by Claire Schooley, October 24, 2007

Involve all major lines of business (LOB) and departments in selecting a learning management system (LMS) to ensure that it meets your business needs. A carefully planned LMS request for proposal (RFP) examines the present state of learning, projects . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

Podcasting: 10 Things You Should Know

by Claire Schooley, October 11, 2007

Podcasting is a real boon for internal corporate communications, marketing initiatives, and informal learning modules targeted at customers and employees alike. A well-produced 10-minute podcast presents very specific information pertinent to the targeted . . .

For Information & Knowledge Management Professionals

Topic Overview: eLearning

by Claire Schooley, September 11, 2007

eLearning is an online method of developing skills and knowledge across the entire workforce as well as with customers and partners. eLearning comes in many formats: self-paced courses, virtual live classrooms, or informal learning driven by the user. . . .