I am finding that one of the topics I keep coming back to when discussing how corporate learning needs to change is the need for a coherent view of learning management strategy; how we structure and manage learning, and the linkages we make to the business and other people related concepts such as performance management, capabilities and learning. The need (or more pertinantly, the absence) of LM Strategy seems to me to underpin many challenges organisations have in answering questions about what learning will be in the future, how it will be structured, how it will be accessed and delivered, and the strategies for the organisation, processes and systems to support it.
Often the entry point to this discussion is a discussion of LMS (i.e. systems) strategy. In my experience, LMS strategy is often overly preoccupied with technology issues and tactical functionality, and massively under-preoccupied with business and learning strategy and needs. There is usually a very good reason for this; learning strategy is usually not well-defined, or if it is, not worth the paper it is written on! Whilst every business would, I assume, claim to have a strategy - how that strategy relates to learning is not clear. Often the deeper you ask these questions, the murkier the problem becomes, and the more likely our LMS team is to focus on more tangible questions of technology and functionality. And that is a problem.
Learning management strategy provides the linkage between business strategy and strategic change for learning. It creates a framework for dialogue between business, human capital and learning leadership, and it provides a framework for change to learning management processes, organisation and systems. It should also help bridge the divide that exists between learning and other human capital processes including talent and performance management, and the divide with knowledge management.
Few organisations seems to be able to articulate or define how these key areas of activity come together, how they inform each other, and how they collectively help the business meet its strategic objectives. I would like to see more attention on LM to go with the growing action on LMS!
If this topic seems interesting, take a look at some of the current questions we are asking in the link below or email me at davidw@elearnity.com.
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