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Study suggests a set of common factors that contribute to e-learning success

According to a new study authored by Laura Overton Associates and sponsored by e.learning age, there are a set of common business factors that contribute to sustainable e-Learning success within UK organisations.

The study, entitled ‘Linking learning to business: A study of the practical business considerations required for sustainable e-Learning success in Europe’, reviewed the e-learning activities of 15 organisations from a range of sectors including, Government, Financial services, IT, Telecommunications, Insurance, Retail, Manufacturing, Consultancy Services & Transport.

Each of the participating organisations were perceived externally as having an established and successful e-learning strategy, directed and managed from the UK. The study gathered data from both the e-learning sponsors and over 2000 users and managers within the organisations. It found:

• 90 % recommend e-learning to co-workers
• 91% say e-learning is an important option
• 90% say following e-learning they are able to use points in their work
• 75% say e-learning gives them control and visibility of their own development

"For the last 18 months we have heard much of how e-learning has failed to live up to its long term promise which has rightly left organisations cautious" said Laura Overton, the principal researcher on this project.

"In the meantime, there are many businesses who have been successfully deploying e-learning over a significant periods of time and have found ways of engaging learners and the business in that process. This study was designed to look beyond the technology to discover and share the common business practices that contributed to their sustained successes."

Key findings

Whilst types and applications of e-learning content were diverse within each organisation and strategies regarding LMS varied from business to business the study uncovered a number of common factors and processes across the participating organisations:

According to the research, successful e-learning organisations -

• Ensured that their e-learning strategy visibly fulfilled a core business strategy - alignment to core business strategy from the start and continual integration into multiple business processes ensures ongoing sustainability.
• Understand and develop learner motivation as a high priority
• Deliver quick wins early in the implementation process.
• Invest in varied support mechanisms. On an average of 5, diverse support mechanisms were used by each organisation to facilitate learning but only 36% of the most popular learner support methods involved face to face contact.
• Vary success criteria and measurement on a project by project basis but report regularly back to management statistics on the agreed criteria.
• Invest heavily in communication to all stakeholders both at the launch of a new project and throughout to maintain interest.

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