Introduction to the Corporate Training Challenge

Learning, eLearning, mobile learning, social learning, and all the others are valid pursuits and excellent topics of discussion for a conference, or over a few beers with colleagues. But the reality is that most organizations discover a need for training long before they begin entertaining the idea of a learning culture or learning ecosystem.

I see very few practical debates, conversations, discussions, of real corporate projects with constraints, politics, unique resources, and the many possible solutions. Even the best case studies have hidden stories within the study. It’s those hidden stories that hold the key to real learning from other’s experiences.

In this post I’ve proposed a very real situation. It’s short with few details because, let’s face it, this is how we normally get projects dumped on us.

I hope you’ll take a moment to think about it, and offer your expertise, comments, and questions.

The Scenario You’re Challenged to Address

It’s late afternoon on a friday. Your manager approaches your cubical with the familiar greeting “gotta minute”?

She drops a paperback manual on the desk titled Understanding ESD (ElectroStatic Discharge). The pages are simplistic with simple graphics and minimal text.

Then the request: Turn this book into self-paced eLearning…by next Friday. Its for all workers handling product at a large microprocessor facility.

What do you do?

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RECAP:

• 5 working days
• 2 weekend days
• A paper back manual (approx. 25pages)
• Audience is all employees handling sensitive electronics negatively effected by ESD

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Some Questions to Help You Get Started

• How would you respond to the manager?
• What questions would you ask?
• Do you think you could get the project done?
• Would you be WILLING to get the project done?
• Anything else?