Is your digital learning strategy fit for purpose?

As organisations start to really recognise the flexibility and value digital learning can have on their operations and people, there is an upward trend in budgets and time being invested in digital learning.

However, through conversations with colleagues, networks and clients it is becoming clear that some are failing to reap the benefits and returns, whilst others are implementing a well thought out digital learning strategy, that is delivering real business impact.

Whether you are planning, creating, or evaluating your digital approach to workplace learning, there are a few potential challenges and factors that must be considered for digital learning to be implemented and monitored effectively.

On the surface a strategy can seem embedded and digital course completion rates may be high, but that does not necessarily mean the digital offering is fit for purpose and your learners are having a transferable learning experience.

So, why is it that a digital learning strategy might not be achieving its goals? What is getting in the way?

One key recommendation is to determine whether your plan is aligned to the organisation strategy. Any type of learning strategy needs to support operational priorities and deliver the required professional education and development of organisational talent, otherwise it is not fit for purpose.

The strategy should detail the required knowledge, skills and capabilities of your people and how these contribute to the execution of the organisational strategy. You also need to think about what needs to be achieved, by when, where and why.

Another essential part of your digital learning strategy is the learner. Learners have their own expectations when it comes to learning. Their learning experiences can vary according to several factors:

• Is the learning providing the outcomes the learner is expecting?
• Is learning being delivered in a variety of formats?
• Is learning catering for different learner preferences?
• Are learning solutions moving with the times or stuck in the dark ages?
• Are learning solutions encouraging an environment for digital learners to be curious?

This is the starting point to deliver against learner expectations and maximises the desired impact to the learner and the organisation.

If you have not considered some of these factors, don’t worry, you are not alone. Here are three key steps you can follow to ensure your digital learning strategy is fit for purpose and can deliver real business impact. These steps will steer your strategy in the right direction, ensuring the associated learning solutions are set for success and delivering the desired results.

1. Step back and ask why.

• What digital learning solutions do you need and why?
• What are the problems you are needing to solve?
• What measures are you putting in place to determine success?

2. Speak to your people.

• Have you understood who the target audiences are and understood what solutions are required and how they are going to add value?
• Have you identified the priorities?
• How will you monitor and measure success of learner experience and impact?

3. Plan the way forward.

• Have you considered the best delivery method(s)?
• Do you have the capabilities and capacity to create the solutions, or do you need to obtain the specialist skills and knowledge to define and/or create them?
• Have you anticipated and flagged any potential risks or concerns?
• Are timescales realistic and achievable?
• Have you considered how you will regularly review impact?

Once you have followed these recommended steps, you should be clearer about how your digital learning strategy will be fit for purpose and deliver value to your learners.

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