March 10th, 2010 by Learning Systems

As any company with an outsourced extension knows, business process outsourcing (BPO) can involve certain risks. Security, disconnect, lack of motivation, and unforeseen costs are just a few. However, learning management systems (LMS) can help mitigate these risks by creating a more centralized training system, in which all employees are trained to execute the same processes. In doing so, outsourced extensions of a company are able to operate in a more unified and parallel way, and avoid the traps that so many outsourcing organizations fall into.

What are some of the risks involved in business process outsourcing, and how can a learning management system prevent them? For starters, there can be some security risks involved. Outsourcing an Information System, for instance, might be a risky venture. If an information system is being controlled overseas, this could involve not only privacy issues, but communication problems. Learning management system training content that covers these challenges and prepares employees and managers to handle them can stop these issues from arising in the first place.

Another risk is a disconnect between you and your outsourced extension. For that reason, a strong learning management system course that deals with compliance training topics such as communication strategies and specific processes is key.

Solid LMS training for managers is an essential implementation for BPO extensions. For example, a course in project management could help your managers review project management processes, project and team cycles, and evaluation and improvement techniques. A project management course is able to orient both staff and managers to the functions and tools needed for successful management.

Another kind of course with great benefits for managers in an outsourced post is a course that covers team dynamics and staff motivation. While most managers would agree that staff motivation is a critical element of managerial duties, many do not actually practice effective motivation, and are in the dark as to what kinds of strategies, techniques, and theories factor in. A course training managers on what kind of motivation strategies actually work, and how to implement them, is a strong preventative measure against BPO risks such as a changing attitude among employees or low employee morale.

BPO works best when all employees are trained uniformly using an LMS that delivers effective and repeatable training programs. It’s also important that the LMS training is easy to update to address extension-specific matters and new developments in a company.

This is another reason why online training is an effective risk-preventative measure: the fact that it is easy to update and deliver immediately, when you need it. In the past, when training was handled with instructional books and booklets, or with pdf and power point documents, the process of updating training was often a slow and painstaking one. An LMS training program is essential in providing staff with the most up-to-date information.

When you use online training technology like learning management systems to train employees in BPO positions, you’re thinking progressively for your company. Think about it. The person you’re training–especially for outsourced HR positions–just might be the one in charge of administering a very similar kind of training someday. When that day comes, having had experience with LMS training, they will be in an ideal position to help others along in the process, and deliver the training effectively.

In order to reap the benefits of business process outsourcing, the risks involved must be foreseen and prevented using the resources available to companies. One last risk is the underestimation of running costs for outsourced extensions. Cost-effective LMS training solutions can help lower the costs of BPO as well as take care of a number of other problems before they even arise.

March 1st, 2010 by Learning Systems

Business process outsourcing is fast becoming the norm among large-scale companies and businesses, and offers some outstanding benefits. But it can also be a complicated venture, which is why strong LMS or other online company training is crucial for organizing and training employees whose work is outsourced.

Business process outsourcing (BPO) refers specifically to the contracting of business processes to a third-party service provider, instead of having them performed inside the company. It can involve the outsourcing of basic business functions like human resources or finances and accounting (back office outsourcing). Or, it can include customer-related services like contact centers and user support teams (front office outsourcing). Offshore, nearshore, knowledge process, and legal process outsourcing are four sub-segments of business process outsourcing.

Of course, business process outsourcing (especially off- or near-shore) can save organizations a great deal of money. Everything from labor to overhead costs like electricity and water bills becomes cheaper. However, it also means that it becomes increasingly important that employees are part of a supportive and efficient training system, in order to ensure successful distance team work.

BPO is nothing new. Outsourcing itself can be traced to as early as the 1830’s, when the U.S. commissioned workers in Scotland to build ship sales and wagon covers. By the 1970’s many computer companies were outsourcing their payroll preparation systems to different financial offices who offered these services. Manufacturing companies like Coca-Cola also began to use business process outsourcing, and more and more businesses caught on to the trend as the 70’s passed. By 1980, almost all company accounting tasks, as well as other kinds of work, were being sent outside company walls.

In relation to the frequency of business process outsourcing taking place, companies are paying greater attention to their learning management system training and other online training systems. Everyone wants to secure a process that works for his or her company, to reduce the cost of training by finding a customized solution and making it both adaptable and repeatable.

It’s never been uncommon for organizations to outsource content development, such as learning programs, management and company training, including tasks such as the production of books, training materials, videos, and other educational materials.  LMS vendors offer benefits such as flexibility, customization, and cost-effectiveness to organizations using BPO.

In the past, before learning management systems and other online training systems, training employees was a more decentralized process. Oftentimes, companies could not even be sure how much money they were spending on training across their enterprise. The process varied widely from group to group, and company to company.

Companies who use business process outsourcing can save money if they are able to centralize and repeat the process of training. This is where learning management systems are useful, since they allow users to create and deliver customized training solutions. Companies can make training their own, integrated with their logo and corporate color scheme. Learning management systems that use a pay-per-use business model make it easy to load and reload learning content as required for relevant, up-to-date training. This model allows organizations to help employees gain the skills and knowledge required in exactly the period of time necessary.

February 25th, 2010 by Learning Systems

When shopping around for a learning management system that perfectly fits the needs of your organization, you might consider seeking the help of an LMS consultant. Consultants can help you sort out all the nitty gritty in your decision-making process, bringing years of experience in the LMS industry to your aid.

They are able to determine your company’s requirements for the system and review proposals and demonstrations of each vendor. Consultants can cut down on the amount of effort you’ll need to spend and can show you how each vendor meets or doesn’t meet your LMS requirements. They are able to highlight concerns and issues that might otherwise go unidentified.

Of course, whether or not you choose to hire a learning management system consultant, your first step to securing the perfect LMS is to decide on your organization’s needs. Consider a few different issues. First, determine the scale. How many students and other users will you be catering to? Consider the number of learners, courses, trainers, sessions, and administrators involved.

Second, what do you need your LMS to do? What do you need to track? These might be courses, grades, attendance and so on. Find out whether or not you need your LMS to be standards compliant (SCORM, IMS, etc.).

Third, consider your distribution plan. Will you be using your LMS only internally, or will you want it to have e-commerve capabilities? Will you need automatic billing?

Get straight on all the details before choosing an LMS. Learning management systems come in all sizes and meet a variety of requirements, so ensure that you have one in mind that covers all the bases you see fit.

A fourth consideration: should your LMS be connected to other systems within your company? Should it be able to export data to other systems?

The fifth issue is a critical one. What kind of support will you need? Does your organization have a strong IT department which will be able to meet any tech-related issues that may arise while using the LMS? And finally, does LMS you are considering provide reliable and 24-hour support to users?

Sixth, take into account your organizational needs in respect to organizing the training. LMSs have evolved to provide not only online education and training, but also to meet organizations’ planning and procedural needs. Ensure that these functions will be sustainable throughout the development of your organization.

Oftentimes, choosing an LMS forces companies to take a hard look at their approach to corporate training. For example, you may discover that you need to redefine some of your business processes, or even redesign your course delivery methods.

A learning management system should be both flexible and scalable. Too often organizations implement a LMS that works for a while, but as the organization grows, the LMS no longer meets its needs. LMSs should help you grow, so be sure to select an LMS that will grow with you.

Having a handle on what each LMS offers is a clear first step in deciding on which one you would like to employ. A consultant can help you answer the questions, “Does this LMS provide all the features we need?” Different LMSs offer a wide variety of functions including video, text, audio, assessment and quiz, gaming, podcast, and other tools to make your online training effective and interactive.

However, beyond making sure that your chosen LMS has everything you need, you should also consider any function the system provides that you actually won’t need. In many cases, you’re paying for all those extra features in addition to the actually useful ones. Of course, neat extra features might seem cool to have, but do you really need them? In order to prevent paying more for your LMS than you need to, it’s wise not to choose on an LMS with lots of bells and whistles that you will never actually employ.

But do check out the unique tools and functionalities offered by each LMS, and contact a few vendors to ask them to demo their LMS. Be sure that the learning management system has everything you need, and that the demo is able to illustrate your company’s requirements.

February 23rd, 2010 by Learning Systems

The Learning Management System is currently taking the lead in helping over a thousand companies to use in their application processes. There are some who find it a relief to acquire such program and there are a lot of people who commends the computer based training program as convenient and user-friendly. Here are some more reasons why it is very important to acquire this type of software for your organization.

First of the advantages that Learning Management System can provide is that it has a comprehendible course management feature. Anyone or people who are not that equipped with such knowledge regarding high end technologies can easily comprehend every single detail of the process being assessed as the system can sort and organize courses and lessons.

You may have noticed a lot of companies have already adapted this kind of system online. It is just in your discretion on which one has caught your interest or which system provides you better outputs. However, it does not matter what company you select. Comparing it to traditional ways of learning programs, it is better by a mile. Your stressful task has just been solved through these types of programs.

These programs are generated through hard works of the best programmers and developers in the world. They were able to come up with various courses from a set of fields ranging from health, education, computer courses or accounting and other. An organization has the option to choose the specific field they are interested to deal with in this type of technique.

Learning Management System also manages to have a systematic compilation and organized documentation of ever course and lecture a company or an organization has, which makes it easier to understand. Not only that, it is more convenient for people as they can allocate time by considering their pacing in understanding the course. Bid farewell to piles of lecture notes as Learning Management System do everything for you by not compensating the knowledge you would be getting from the program.

With the best things Learning Management System could provide, it just proves why it is leading the current trend of computer based training programs that companies and organizations love to use.

February 8th, 2010 by Learning Systems

Although there’s no denying that the education trend (not only online learning via learning management systems, but non-virtual learning as well) has shifted toward an independent, self-guided mode, people still require incentives to learn just about anything. For this reason and others, monitoring trainees’ learning processes is critical.

Despite the widespread pedagogical pressure to believe the contrary, intentional learning doesn’t happen for most people. Or perhaps it does in some areas, but not for all kinds of content. Of course, anyone can get excited about learning a particular skill or topic that interests them. There’s no need to keep tabs on a teenager’s learning of their new video game, for example. The intention already exists.

But the hard truth is that although company training certainly can be fun and engaging, it’s often not centered around the most exciting topics trainees can imagine.

At its core, learning is about always wanting something. For people in a classroom setting, that something may be good grades. In a company training session or learning management system (LMS) course, the desired objective may include rewards for good performance, or simple verbal encouragement and acclaim.

People of all ages–both children and adults–are typically responsive to simple words of encouragement from a respected superior. Along with a user-friendly training program with its own system of points and rewards, employees benefit greatly from human motivation. A leader who motivates trainees not only facilitates the learning process, but instills a sense of team unity, which improves work relationships.

But beyond encouragement from a supervisor or training leader, another way to aid effective training is to monitor student progress. Some LMSs have features like the Activities monitor, which helps solve a problem all too prevalent in online training. The Activities tool makes simple the administrative responsibility of overseeing and guiding students in their learning process. It provides training administrators with a simple tool to track, in real time, the online course activities of students through a tab in the LMS interface.

The Activities feature serves a practical purpose. Using the feature, administrators can track student activities to find out where each one is exceeding, and in what areas extra attention may be required.

Monitoring trainees with the aid of a feature like Activities helps ensure that students are actually absorbing the content they are learning. Why is this important? First of all, ensuring training effectiveness saves organizations and educators valuable time and energy. In what ways? Many–and each depending on the kind of training you’re delivering.

On the other hand, some kinds of training may not necessarily benefit from such a feature. For example, training material given to new employees, teaching them the ins and outs of their new position, may not cry for a feature that monitors student progress in such an active way. After all, newcomers to an organization are typically excited about their new job–they want to learn. They are intentional learners.

With compliance training, however, that story changes. Here organizations save money in the long run if they ensure successful training. Conflict can be avoided, and employees can be protected. And of course, productivity is always increased when employees are well educated on workplace issues which are meant to facilitate communication and prevent conflict.

Automated tracking of learning allows trainers and educators to concentrate on teaching and administering content. Trainers can focus on the content and guiding student interaction with the material, rather than actively keeping tabs on them.

However, the most effective way to ensure that learning is taking place is the existence of a strong and engaging training course. It’s not enough to create satisfactory content, get it out there, and expect students to eat it up. A complete and flexible learning management system which provides a variety of robust features is the best way to create content that entices all learners to become intentional ones.

January 25th, 2010 by Learning Systems

Many people are upgrading their skills these days by using a learning management system (LMS). With a fast paced work environment, most organizations are implementing blended learning solutions that enable learners to experience the benefits of a classroom in a virtual environment. These learning systems can be invaluable and keep you updated about the various training courses. Using a LMS for a blended learning solution involves using different training mediums, events and activities to create a robust course for different audiences.

If you’re not really sure what a learning management system is, it’s basically a type of software application that uses various types of e-programs and other training content programs and methods to educate people. The systems usually look after all aspects of learning, including administration, documentation, tracking, and reporting. There are various types available which range in their capabilities.

While many employees are initiating their own involvement in a learning management system you will find there are just as many companies that are asking employees to utilize them. The employers see these systems as excellent ways to teach numerous people the same job skills simultaneously.

While some companies prefer to have their trainees learn at their own pace in an individual setting, many firms still believe there are advantages to training people in a virtual classroom environment.

Some of the benefits of a virtual classroom using a learning management system include:

• If training takes place in a virtual class the employees will begin to feel and act like a team instead of individuals and it’s usually teamwork that leads to success these days. The class will realize everybody is on the same page when it comes to achieving business goals.

• It also allows the employees to take courses according to their schedules and also experience the benefits of a classroom. This guarantees that students interact and network with each other while learning at the own pace. It does not need them to worry that somebody is too far ahead or behind the rest of the group.

• For trainers, a learning management system provides a forum for students to exchange ideas, queries and promotes a healthy discussion which supports knowledge retention. If there are any important messages or changes in the course outline, everybody will hear about it instantly.

• A virtual classroom learning management system will also allow students to help each other out when needed and can help them bond.

• Everything that is learned in the classroom will eventually create a common experience for all students to share and discuss.

• The costs for running a virtual classroom using a learning management system is less than having all the learners in a classroom.

• Students can work in team, but the employer still has the option of having them work individually when necessary.

Because each learning management system may vary greatly from the next, some of them will be more suited to classroom settings while others may be more appropriate for people to learn on their own.

January 20th, 2010 by Learning Systems

Why don’t more companies use a learning management system or other online training tools? An all-too typical company procedure for greeting new employees is their subjection to a long and dry training session. What does this training typically entail? It might mean simply the distribution of books, magazines, pamphlets or online documents. This kind of material is often simply handed to employees, who are left alone to make their way through it. 

The thought is that each newcomer will simply absorb the training content like a sponge, diving into its dry, sandy depths to later emerge with all the golden nuggets of knowledge secured. New staff members, it is expected, will settle and fit right in with very little prepping.

Why does this phenomenon occur? Often it’s because the company simply doesn’t have a real training or orientation plan. Companies often assume that traditional training methods, such as offsite training, are costly and unnecessary. Or whoever is in charge of training doesn’t have the time, or hasn’t anticipated having to make time, to be involved in employee training in a meaningful way. Handing out training content in this way certainly is easy, but ultimately ineffective, time-wasting, and damaging to employee morale.

Why is dry-as-dust training a bad idea? It’s a waste of time. But beyond that, the trainee will surely recognize it as such. This is a disappointing way to be welcomed to a new company, and can give one a bad first impression of a company. Will this job be a waste of the new employee’s skills? he or she may wonder. Or, is the company disorganized and ineffective? 

Online training is a simple, effective and low-cost alternative to training procedures lacking in substance. Using a learning management system to develop and distribute content is a great way to help new and existing employees to become more adept at representing your company.

Use a learning management system (LMS) to create course assignments, tests, and activities to pique trainees’ interest. Additionally, LMS online courses are often flexible to learners’ busy schedules. 

LMS providers like Coggno offer a range of user-friendly tools. Trainees can watch videos, simulations and screen recordings. They can complete comprehensive tests and assessments interacting with a simple interface. The variety of ways an LMS can be used to create course content is only limited by the imagination of the training team or individual departments who create it. Podcasts, videos, and interactive quizzes bring training to life and provide a trainee with a convenient and structured learning environment. And using an LMS like Coggno, it’s easy to update and distribute learning content only as needed.

Online training is a great way to facilitate interaction and cooperation between new employees. Using Web 2.0 tools like discussion forums, blogs, and wikis, students can interact with each other and develop a sense of group dynamic and community, which is often key to trainee success. Not to mention the benefits peer interaction offers during training, including a sense of team unity in the workplace and increased employee morale.

In addition, online training is a great way to aid supervisors or other superiors with the new employees. After all, this is an area in which these dull and dry training programs are often lacking: engagement between higher-ups and employees. 

As a supervisor, why not make a personal appearance in your own course? Provide demos, training CDs, and visual tutorials to employees. Rather than relying on stock simulations or outdated company demos, course creators can create, edit and apply videos to their online training course. Many LMSs allow developers to transform their course content into a richer, more dynamic experience for trainees, and give their course a more professional touch. Creators maintain total control over what students view. 

With a little planning and user-friendly LMS tools, course developers can create a dynamic and unforgettable training experience for new employees. After trainees learn from interactive content, they can be asked to check their knowledge with a quiz. At the end of the training day, they can meet with the supervisor or trainer to touch base and get an overview of what was learned, completing the circle and providing a personalized and effective system of learning checks and balances. 

This is the ideal way to introduce your new employees to your company–by helping them get excited about their new job, well  trained for their new job, and familiar with each other and their superiors. Using a learning management system helps get your employees off to a great start in your company.

January 15th, 2010 by Learning Systems

A learning management system or LMS is a database system that allows you to customize and track a training program or training system.  For an organization this can be extremely convenient.  You can create your course work for employees or students and track all aspects of the curriculum.  This is especially useful when it comes to updating the course work.  Instead of needing to republish printed materials continually which may delay important changes, they can be accomplished immediately and as needed in a learning management system.

The Need to Update Training Materials
Fluidity is essential when it comes to all aspects of business.  In order to be successful a company needs to be able to recognize when there are issues that need to be addressed and how to address them when it occurs.  This sometimes means changing processes in order to address potential customer service issues or to adopt emerging technology for e.g., implementing a learning management system to facilitate better efficiency.  If training materials address the outdated processes it defeats the purpose of training in the first place.

Therefore, it is imperative that training materials be updated regularly and as needed to address any changes in processes.  This way anyone taking the course will get the most up to date information and it will avoid having to retrain in person or possible errors that may happen with an employee.  Training employees by leveraging a learning management system begin with is more efficient, will save time and is less confusing.

Uses for an LMS
An LMS is useful for two basic purposes:  internal training courses within a corporation and learning institutions that specialize in training materials for outside training.  A learning management system is most useful in a corporation that has multiple departments with specific training needs for each position.  This is an ideal vehicle for housing all the training needs for each position.  It can accomplish the tasks of:

• Training new hires in the policies and procedures of the position for which they were hired;

• Being available as reference materials for those who are currently in a position and need to know the way to accomplish a particular job; and

• Allowing others outside the department to learn about the position in order to be proactive and prepared for possible advancement opportunities internally.

For learning institutions that provide continuing education, the learning management system can provide many functions that will help administer all aspects of the training courses.  An LMS can:

• Administer the course calendar;

• Track registrations, changes and drops;

• Conduct the online training work;

• Gather assignments, administer tests or homework; and

• Report grades

A learning management system is a highly valuable system that will help administer all aspects of coursework for organizational training.  It can be used within a company for internal training as well as in learning institutions specializing in outside training courses.  It is especially useful as an easy way to facilitate necessary changes within the training materials.  Training processes will change occasionally due to advancements in technology or because of altered policies.  It is important that training coursework also be updated as needed in order to remain current.  A learning management system can administer such changes quickly and easily for maximum efficiency.

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