November 21, 2002

This month we focus on a number of key issues readers have identified as challenging the training and HR manager. 

Articles in this issue:

Defending Your Training Budget: ROI and Other Important Metrics

Why You Need Workforce Planning

Successful Online Learning - the Five Ps

Chief Learning Officers Link Training and Business Goals

Collaborative Online Learning

There may be no greater issue facing management this year than the business climate in which we all operate. Thanks to the readers of WorkplaceXpert, we have an interesting report available exploring their views on the general business climate they experienced in 2002 and look forward to in 2003. To see how your views align with others, please read the  Business Climate Report Overview or choose to review the more  Detailed Findings. 

We are delighted to continue to offer training and HR professionals this newsletter free of charge. (WorkplaceXpert is not a Website - although it acts like one.) You have to subscribe to continue to receive WorkplaceXpert! If you have not yet signed up, please click here and submit the registration form. If you have subscribed, please forward this to an associate who would value the content.

As always, thank you for your involvement and continued dedication to training!

-  John Quincy, Editor

Defending Your Training Budget: ROI and Other Important Metrics
By Dr. James L’Allier

The old saw, “When revenue is down, training gets cut,” is for many CLOs, and their direct reports, a painful reality. So chances are, you are either anticipating cuts or already know their extent as reflected in your final numbers.

The extent of your pain—great or mild—is probably related to how well you have or think that you have defended your budgets. This article is about helping you find the hidden opportunities in the form of key metrics and strategies that will make your future budgetary defenses as strong as possible. LEARN MORE

Successful Online Learning - the Five Ps

By Jim Flood

Many of you will be familiar with the three (or more) Ps of marketing and even if not, as trainers or teachers you are likely to have used mnemonics as an aid to retention and recall. Mnemonics are especially useful when you need to get the key points to 'stick' in the minds of your audience. With this in mind I offer you the 5 Ps of online learning: Presentation, Pedagogy, Promotion, Preparation and Props. LEARN MORE

Chief Learning Officers Link Training and Business Goals
By Frank Jossi

A look at what CLOs are delivering--greater retention, more career guidance, and training that is more closely coordinated with business needs.

Earlier this year, the medical device company Guidant Corporation decided to promote a longtime employee to the title of vice president, employee development, the equivalent of a chief learning officer, or CLO. The Indianapolis company's executive staff thought that the time was right to better organize training and developmental opportunities and match them more closely with the business goals of the organization, as well as offer employees a map for reaching their own career aspirations. LEARN MORE

Collaborative Online Learning
By Audrey Choden

Collaborative learning isn't anything new. Small group discussions and study sessions are collaborative learning activities that have been used in education and training for decades. So what is collaborative online learning? Is it simply a bunch of buzzwords or is it a valid instructional strategy? LEARN MORE

A very valuable article appeared in the November issue of  Training Magazine. The article reports results from the annual training salary survey. In addition to the survey findings, other important salary and business information is reported. Access is from the Web site is limited to subscribers.LEARN MORE

ASTD and ISPI announce a new certification available for Certified Performance Technologist (CPT). LEARN MORE

NEXT MONTH - We are constantly searching our industry resources for other practical ideas to help you be an effective workplace expert! If you have topics you wish explored, or resources to share, for future editions, please forward them to me. JQ