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What are the Considerations You Need to Make a Decision?
To make an informed decision, you need the front-end analysis information and some additional information based on the goals and business direction of your organization. Four basic considerations (see Figure 14-1) can be used to help guide your decision-making:
Business
Personnel
Technology
Content
Figure 14-1: FOUR BASIC CONSIDERATIONS
These considerations, outlined in the following sections, are key factors that need to be addressed as you formulate your outsourcing decision. E-learning solutions are typically complex with a diverse set of requirements involving a variety of skills and talents. Depending upon your organization's experience and capabilities, your outsourcing needs may vary. Using your analysis information in conjunction with the four considerations, you will be able to determine if and/or how much outsourcing is required for your e-learning project.
Business Considerations
The decision to develop an e-learning solution internally is a major initiative depending upon your organization's business goals and core competencies. If technology-based training is not an area where your organization has expertise or a desire to pursue, you need to take a hard look at the outsourcing option. The requirements to enter into the e-learning arena are costly with a steep learning curve.A consensus among your various management levels is a key component if you want to succeed with an e-learning initiative. A comprehensive team is required to successfully design, develop, and deploy these types of solutions. If an agreement can be obtained to support an e-learning team, the need to outsource is minimized. If only a partial agreement is secured, then you may be able to internally develop certain elements of your project and outsource the rest. If this is your first e-learning project, this approach will minimize the risk and allow you to grow and gain experience in this arena.
Deciding to enter the e-learning market, even if it is to develop internal training, is a big decision that requires long-term commitment. Once the course is developed, it will have to be maintained and modified as the content changes. Upgrading and maintaining your delivery environment is costly and difficult to keep up with as the technology continues to rapidly change. The return on investment (ROI) should be thoroughly examined with regard to increases in productivity, reduced downtime, and the potential for improved employee retention.Before you decide to develop a solution internally, you need to know if your training requirements, upper/lower management, and the business commitment are there to support your team.
Personnel Considerations
Outsourcing an e-learning initiative is highly dependent upon the capabilities and experience of your staff as well as the skill set of your team. You may have a highly experienced team for instructor-led training (ILT); however, this skill set does not encompass the design and development requirements of an e-learning project. Teaching skills do not always translate to technology-based design skills.Typically, not all organizations have the broad-based skill set necessary to effectively handle all of the various aspects of an e-learning solution. Listed below is an example of an e-learning design and development team with experience in the following areas:
Computer technology (hardware, software, programming, and the World Wide Web)
Instructional systems design (ISD) (hopefully with a background in technology-based training such as computer-based training (CBT) or electronic performance support systems (EPSS))
Graphics (preferably experienced in web site design, animation, and instructional graphic development)
Content specialists (preferably experienced with education and training)
You should also have personnel with strong project management skills in technology and training-based programs. Depending upon the design requirements of an e-learning solution, additional expertise may be required in specialty areas such as video, photography, or audio production.If your team does not contain the expertise to address the various areas for your e-learning solution, outsourcing the areas where you are lacking experience or necessary skill set may be the solution. If you do not intend to outsource, then you will be obligated to hire what you need or train staff members in the areas required. In most cases, because time is a critical factor, it does not make sense to retrain or hire new staff.
If resources are hired it is important to ascertain if their skill set can be used for future projects. If not, then these are areas where outsourcing provides the necessary resources you need to get the job done.Finally, another important consideration regarding your existing personnel is their receptiveness to the idea of e-learning. Many organizations have a strong ILT staff. Occasionally, they feel threatened by technology-based training solutions. It is important to gain their support if you intend to use their knowledge and experience on the team.
Technology Considerations
Frequently, the need to outsource is necessary based on technology. Staying abreast of the technological advances in e-learning is no less than overwhelming. In fact, companies and industries in the e-learning business have a difficult time.Based on your analysis information and a solution design, you can take an honest look at your technology capabilities against the requirements and decide if you are capable of accomplishing the task. At a minimum you will need to answer the following technology questions:
How complex is the solution? (Text & graphic-based, synchronous learning, high interactivity, student tracking and registration, etc.?)
Does your company have the infrastructure to develop and host it?
Does the target audience have the platform to receive it?
What bandwidth is needed to deliver it effectively?
Is it necessary to comply with a national or world standard? (SCORM, AICC, etc.)
Will you be able to support it if upgrades and modifications are necessary?
What if you want to migrate toward a more advanced technological solution? Are you willing to continue to stay in the technology race?
If you need to upgrade your infrastructure, do you have the time? Budget?
Technical expertise can be hired and the business case can be justified, however, if your technology capability requires an extensive upgrade you may opt to outsource certain aspects of your e-learning solution.Typically, e-learning solutions are very unique for each company. Once you have established a technology base line and decide at a later date to handle the technical aspect of an e-learning solution, you can use your first project as a springboard for your next initiative.
Content Considerations
Your analysis results will provide you with a great deal of information about the subject matter to be trained. Based on this information and some additional design work, you can determine the instructional and technical complexity of the e-learning solution.Using adult learning theory and solid instructional design principles, instructional delivery strategies and media need to be identified based on the content and the instructional objectives. This information in conjunction with target audience characteristics like geographic location and size should be used to help specify the technology delivery environment.In the case of e-learning, this information helps specify the technical complexities required by the system to effectively deliver the content. The more capable the delivery environment is in presenting the content based on ISD principles, the more effective the learning will be.The impact of instructional delivery strategies, media, and audience characteristics on technology-based delivery requirements are worthy of a whole new article. However, some of the considerations that can help you with an outsourcing decision are identified below:
Will audio or video be required?
Does the content require detailed or extensive use of graphics?
Is the content based on application training?
What is the learning level of the content? (Fact, concept, etc.)
Is simulation or a high degree of interactivity required?
Are realistic scenarios required?
How stable is the content?
Is an instructor required (i.e., synchronous learning)?
Is collaboration with other students and/or an instructor important?
How much content is there? (1 hour, 10 hours, etc.) Will there be more in the future?
What types and levels of feedback are required?
Will you need student tracking and scoring?
Is certification testing a requirement?
How elaborate is your learner comprehension and test strategy?
Is online registration required?
As you can see, the instructional aspects of the content have a major impact on the delivery requirements of not only an e-learning solution but any solution. Unless you have the results of an analysis outlining the instructional requirements of the content and target audience, you cannot properly identify the most effective delivery approach.Properly, evaluating the training requirements of your project will guide you in making the right decision to deliver your content using an e-learning solution. One mistake to avoid is to rollout an e-learning solution just for the sake of technology.
