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Case 2: Anglo Platinum
Company Facts and Figures
Industry: Mining
Scope of Services and Products: Largest platinum producer in the world
Estimated Number of Employees: 65, 000
Year e-Learning Introduced: 2001
Offices and Locations: South Africa
2002 Revenues: US $2.3 billion
Web Site: www.angloplat.com
Number of e-Learning Programs in Entire Curriculum: 13
Introduction
The Anglo Platinum group is the world’s leading primary producer of platinum group metals and is listed on the Johannesburg and London Stock Exchange.During a recent SAP implementation, Anglo Platinum selected a blended learning solution to train 4,500 end users. Anglo Platinum used this opportunity to pilot e-learning within the organization and in the process reviewed and revised their Human Resources Development (HRD) strategy. As a result of the success of the SAP project, Anglo Platinum is intent upon using e-learning to support basic literacy, adult basic education, management development, and compliance training in addition to systems training. They will also be using e-learning to support the next SAP upgrade. The overall strategic intention is to use e-learning to make learning available to people any time and in any place to increase productivity, to meet legal compliance requirements, and as part of their social responsibility to develop previously disadvantaged people within South Africa. The rapidly expanding nature of the industry as well as national legislation, require HRD activities on a large scale. The traditional HRD approach cannot meet the demand, and has led to the emergence of e-learning as a solution.
Why e-Learning?
Anglo Platinum selected an e-learning approach because they needed to:
Train 4,500 SAP end users
Reach a geographically dispersed workforce in remote locations
Access and on-board new business units quickly
How Was the Program Aligned with the Business?
The initial business driver of e-learning within Anglo Platinum was the implementation of SAP R/3 across 13 geographically dispersed business units, many of which are in remote locations. In addition, as a result of the business expansion program, there were a large number of new employees who required SAP training.HR therefore had to adopt a training approach, which could be developed centrally and deployed nationally. The plan had to accommodate a large number of end users, with different levels of SAP experience and understanding of Anglo Platinum’s business processes. The SAP training also had to be delivered within a short period of time, and this resulted in the need to run multiple sessions simultaneously. There were also an insufficient number of trainers to deliver the training using a traditional classroom approach. The e-learning platform therefore enabled Anglo Platinum to use existing permanent employees to facilitate or act as mediators without incurring the cost of additional trainers.The work environment also posed a number of challenges. At Anglo Platinum, many SAP end users are miners and spend a large part of their day underground. A flexible manner to train production personnel had to be introduced, while minimizing traveling and accommodation costs. The safety of personnel traveling over large distances was also a factor that was addressed through the use of an e-learning platform.
Key Business Drivers
Keep pace with rapidly expanding business and the addition of new business units
Provide for a longer rollout period
Reach a geographically dispersed workforce in remote locations
Meet demand with limited number of internal training staff
Run multiple training sessions simultaneously
Provide flexible training hours to meet requirements of the work environment
Make provisions for refresher training
How Was the Program Designed?
The SAP Learning Program is a combination of a self-study e-learning component and a video conference workshop.
Program Structure—Two Levels of Learning
The first component of the program addresses theory and processes and provides an opportunity to perform transactions in a simulated environment. The objective of this component is for learners to gain an understanding of the system and also to understand why they need to complete various transactions. The activities include:
An introduction and orientation session during which a facilitator explains the objectives and assists the learners with the first online learning activity.
A self-paced e-learning session (see Figure 11-1) during which the learners are given headphones, and access to a number of online activities, including theory, practice, and assessment.
Figure 11-1: Learning Program Interface
The second component focuses on various SAP transactions. The objective of this session is for learners to observe the facilitator completing a number of transactions on the actual SAP system and then to practice the exercises on their own. The activities include:
An interactive video conference session explaining the process and the related transactions
A self-paced exercise on the computer
In addition, specific online tests had to be successfully completed before learners could move on to subsequent sections.
Development Process
All courses were developed by Anglo Platinum staff. The team consists of four or five people, and at first it took approximately 200 hours to develop one hour of learning. This time has since been reduced to approximately 85 hours of development time. In total, it took approximately six months to purchase the relevant hardware and software and develop two, two-day SAP courses and also pilot them. Anglo Platinum incorporated a number of tools and media into the design. The primary facilitation tool was videoconferencing, and the self-paced e-learning sessions were developed in iTutor and Macromedia Authorware.
Media and Tools
Video conferencing
Macromedia Authorware
iTutor
AVI video files
Quick reference guides
How Was the Program Deployed?
For delivering the program, a host classroom was equipped with videoconferencing facilities and PCs. A number of remote classrooms were also equipped with PCs and linked to the videoconferencing facilities. Anglo Platinum initially tried to access the courses from a central server but found that the access time was too slow due to the large video and simulation files. They eventually loaded the courses onto individual PC hard drives. During Day One of the two-day program, the learners in both the host classroom, as well as the remote classrooms, work through a number of self-placed e-learning modules. In takes the learners from five to ten hours to complete the program, depending on their level of SAP knowledge and PC literacy. One benefit of the self-paced e-learning approach is that all learners begin at the same level in terms of knowledge on Day Two of the program.During Day Two, the learners in the remote classrooms are linked up to the host classroom. The objective of this session is to practice completing transactions within SAP. In contrast to the previous day, the learners now complete transactions within the SAP environment rather than in a simulated environment. A facilitator who is located within the host classroom guides the learners. The learners within the remote classrooms watch the facilitator on a large television screen. Moderators, located within the remote classrooms, assist the facilitator. Anglo Platinum selected the videoconferencing system as opposed to Web conferencing because of the higher quality and speed it presents.Anglo Platinum has not purchased a learning management system. They use SAP’s Training and Events module to record course attendance and test results. Because functionality is related to payroll, the learners are required to pass the test with a 100 percent rating before being accredited and gaining access to SAP. A full training management session was held with the relevant people at the various mining sites before any training began. Several test runs were also conducted with various audiences to give the facilitators and moderators an opportunity to become familiar with the new delivery method. The moderators were people from the business unit HRD departments.Anglo Platinum also decided on an unusual initial target audience. They selected the people who they thought would be most likely to resist the new delivery medium. The rationale for this was to try the new approach on a critical group of people, and then assess the validity of anycriticism and make the necessary changes. Once senior management was exposed to the approach, they actively supported and promoted the program. Prior to this, an executive business case was prepared and endorsed by the Executive HR Director and fully bought into by the HRD professionals.
Marketing Approach
Training management session
Test runs
Critical target audience
Senior management buy- in
What Was the Business Impact Program?
The pilot project was considered a huge success and the e-learning approach has been subsequently included in the HRD strategy as a major focus area for the delivery of all kinds of learning interventions. By adopting an e-learning approach of this nature, Anglo Platinum was able to reach a wide audience quickly, reduce the costs associated with travel and accommodation, reduce the time away from work, allow learners to progress at their own rate, work accurately once back on the job, and increase productivity.In addition, it was possible for a group of people, who may not have had an opportunity otherwise, to share ideas remotely and learn from one another. Finally, the pilot was used as a proof-of-concept and gained acceptance from management as well as staff as an exciting alternative to traditional classroom training.Since the SAP pilot, Anglo Platinum has also developed a number of soft skills and compliance programs and has received similar positive feedback. An extensive evaluation has been developed for learners to provide feedback on course content and delivery. The benefits have once again been instantly recognized by learners, in particular the enhanced way of learning.It appears that the program was very well accepted, and that learners would welcome further e-learning opportunities. This ties in well with the Anglo Platinum HRD strategy to support basic literacy, adult basic education, management development, and compliance training in addition to systems training.
Learner Perspectives
"I was really impressed with the e-learning process. I think this way of learning can save a lot of time and money in future. Well done!"
"This kind of training is what we’ve been waiting for, and its immediate implementation will help so much."
"I think all employees should complete the course. It was excellent with the new technology. It works great."
Summary
Purpose: Provide essential SAP training to 4,500 end users in a cost-effective way Program Structure: The program consisted of a two-day session divided into two distinct phases:
Theory and practice with simulation and assessment
Hands-on practice using the SAP environment
Number of Learning Hours per Learner:
Day One: Range between 6 and 10 hours
Day Two: 6 hours
Number of Learners: 4,500Completion Requirements:
End users must pass assessment with 100 percent proficiency
Media and Tools:
Self-paced e-learning
Video conference
Quick reference guides
Deployment Mechanism: The program is deployed in a host classroom environment, and at the same time, in multiple remote locations.
Host classroom has PCs, a facilitator, and video conference system
Remote classrooms have PCs, a moderator, and a television screen for viewing live video conference session.
Lessons Learned
e-Learning is still very much in its infancy; therefore, there are very few people who can provide advice on how to approach a project of this nature.
Understanding the culture and identifying what will work best is critical.
Gaining senior management support early on in the process supports success.
Developing a strong business case gains management support.
A research and development pilot phase is critical to prove the concept to management.
Providing the learners with enough support makes them feel at ease.
