If you want to implement an e-learning program, you will first of all need a clear idea of what you expect from e-learning. Maybe you want to save costs, improve customer service, meet regulatory obligations or streamline the process of employee training and development in your company. All these are legitimate reasons for implementing e-learning and you have to know the yours if e-learning should bring you a positive change. Next steps to successful implementation of e-learning include:
Secure support
Before you start implementing e-learning, make sure you have support of the widest possible range of people who will be affected by the selected solution and show them the influence e-learning will have on them. This include mainly line and senior managers, IT professionals, end users, corporate trainers and coaches but also trade unions representatives, customers or suppliers.
Divide all these people into three groups 1) primary stakeholders (those who will be learning directly), 2) secondary stakeholders (those who are will be indirectly affected by the changes, such as customers), and 3) key stakeholders (those who will have a major impact on the success of your project, such as those deciding on budgets). Then you can clearly see what should be emphasized to whom.
Meet your target audience
Well consider the needs of the people you want to learn using e-learning and involve them from the very beginning. Ask questions such as: To what extent are they able to work with computers? Do they have any experience with e-learning and what experience is it? How easy it will be for them to access e-learning? When and where will they be able to use e-learning?
Select your way of implementing e-learning
Work closely with the providers of e-learning and your IT specialists. Rely on whether your chosen solution will be a standalone product or a part of a broader educational program. Consider whether to choose a tailored solution or some of the universal solutions, too. Then there is the question of the choice of a hosting, a platform and a technology that can be updated.
Get monetary resources
Training budgets are the first to be cut in companies in bad times. Therefore, you need to clearly know how much funding will be needed for your project, where to obtain these funds and to what extent you will have to show that e-learning brings a higher return of investment compared with other types of employee education.
Do not underestimate marketing
It makes no sense to invest in e-learning if nobody is to use it. That is why you should also be able to sell the selected solution well. Build a marketing strategy to promote e-learning among all stakeholders. Show your enthusiasm for what you are doing and promote e-learning wherever you can.
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