Learning and development are critical to the success of any modern business as they ensure that employees are fully equipped to perform their best and are a clear indication that they are worth investing in. Implementing a robust corporate learning management system in Singapore is pivotal to ensuring that employees are fully equipped to perform their best. This notion ultimately fosters a greater commitment to the organisation that, in turn, boosts company culture.
That said, many businesses often have little to show for their L&D investments. One estimate based in the United States discovered that corporate training and development expenses, which hovered around $200 billion annually, only delivered 10% of real results. This difficulty in implementing effective learning programs stems from a few common challenges, namely:
● Learning is difficult to translate in the workplace since training programs are often held outside the organisation.
● Training requires employees to invest much of their free time while still fulfilling their regular work responsibilities.
● The burden of applying the learning is placed on the employee, often with little to no instructor follow-ups after completing the training program.
Thankfully, there is a way to resolve these challenges: learning in the flow of work.
Read on as we explore the significance of embedding learning into the daily workflow and how this approach facilitates a modern organisation’s growth and success.
Learning in the workflow defined
Learning in the flow of work is a concept coined by Josh Bersin back in 2018 in which employees are provided with learning opportunities throughout their daily workflow. That is to say, they receive training content at the point of need without pulling them away from their current task. Thus, learning becomes more effective since it is ingrained into an employee’s regular work day and allows them to digest information in context, enabling them to apply newly acquired knowledge immediately, and then seamlessly return to their usual tasks. This results in increased productivity, improved engagement and knowledge retention, and a greater return on investments in L&D.
What does learning in the workflow mean in practice?
Although this concept has become trending in the L&D space, many organisations remain unsure what it means for day-to-day operations. In reality, learning in the workflow is not just about providing more accessible training programs but giving the workforce the knowledge they need at the right time.
This is a much-needed improvement, seeing as employees have been sifting through pages or hours of videos just to find the information they need for far too long now. Such inefficiencies are backed by a McKinsey research study, which discovered that employees spend approximately 9.3 hours every week searching for and gathering information.
Training content needs to fit where the learner is, not the other way around. It should be easily accessible in the employee's usual work setting, similar to a dynamic environment that involves plenty of problem-solving and a need to perform well in order to 'survive'. In addition, the process of finding such content should be frictionless, targeted, and specifically meet the needs of learners. This is where a combination of state-of-the-art learning experience platforms (LXP) and bleeding-edge microlearning content is unbeatable.
A comprehensive look at the importance of on-demand learning
According to the Corporate Executive Board, a true dynamic and continuous learning culture has three major characteristics: open-mindedness, shared learning, and an independent pursuit of knowledge. Empowering professionals to take ownership of their skills advancement encourages them to foster a proactive attitude towards learning across the organisation. All this combines into developing the perfect learning-focused environment.
Furthermore, learning in the workflow enables employees to acquire new skills that often let them discover new ways to interact with diverse peers. This can be an invaluable tool for organisations to address the pressing skills gap issue by providing their workforce with the support, space, and opportunity to acquire new competencies in an increasingly competitive work landscape. Continuous learning is more than just signing up employees to training programs and hoping they take away something of value. Rather, it is about creating and sustaining a positive attitude towards ongoing learning.
Naturally, having such an invaluable culture comes with proven benefits. A Deloitte report highlights that those who manage to achieve a continuous learning culture within their organisation are:
● 46% more likely to be first-movers
● 37% higher productivity
● 92% more likely to innovate
The benefits of learning in the flow of work
The following are a few of the key benefits of leveraging learning in the workflow of your training programs.
1. Higher productivity
Enabling employees to access learning content as they go about their work day minimises their time spent training and more on putting their learning into action. As per two eduMe case studies, employers observed an 8% increase in productivity and freed up to 720 hours or 30 days for their workforce as a result of this method.
2. More cost-effective
Switching to targeted and focused learning opportunities inherent in learning in the workflow can generate significant cost savings compared to traditional in-person training methods. Not only that, it also ensures a better ROI, as learners are more likely to gain value from their training when it is integrated into their existing workflow.
3. Business impact
Research studies have shown that the closer the proximity between learning and the context where it is supposed to be applied, the greater the odds that learners can retain and use their newfound knowledge. In other words, serving relevant information at the time of application offers the best odds of translating training into real results and driving the desired behavioural changes.
Conclusion
In summary, learning in the workflow is essential for any organisation determined to make the most of their training initiatives and maximise ROI. Furthermore, corporate eLearning can drive business success by seamlessly integrating targeted training modules into employees' daily tasks, fostering continuous improvement and adaptability. By providing the right information and training content at the right time, employees can apply their learning in the right context, which translates into better business performance and raises their engagement with training programs.