The quality of employees and their skills acquired through education and training are key components in determining the long-term profitability of organizations. Wise organizations invest in the development and skills of their employees – both new and current – by delivering high-quality training programs that will increase the overall efficiency and productivity of the company. Organizations are turning to online training to maintain their competitive edge in today’s market. At the end of 2008, the American Society of Trainers and Developers (ASTD) reported on this current trend – see how your company compares in the blue chart in this article.
Online learning is becoming increasingly popular in recent years. There are several advantages to employee development and training online. One advantage to online training is the cost savings. Organizations that utilize online learning as a method for training can greatly reduce their overhead costs by cutting the delivery costs, time, and expenses incurred in travel and training. Organizations that invest in training their employees can accrue additional cost savings through a reduction in employee turnover, employee downtime, the need for supervision, increased staff productivity, reduced customer support calls, etc.
When scheduling face to face trainings, scheduling a time and place for all employees to attend is virtually impossible, especially when factoring in time zones. Conducting training online provides the flexibility and convenience needed in today’s fast-paced workforce. Employees participating in online training do not have to be taken out of the field or office for training, allowing organizations to maintain their level of productivity. Employees can take their training programs during down time at work or at home – allowing employees to focus on their duties while still participating in exceptional training.
Utilizing the Internet to attend trainings, not only provides learners with the flexibility to participate in training at a time that’s convenient for them, but also allows them to proceed at a pace that matches their individual learning style. Because training materials, resources, comments, and discussions are accessible 24 hours a day 7 days a week, learners are able to read and re-read material at a pace that’s comfortable for them. Having time to fully comprehend the material allows learners to think about what they want to say in their comments; this generates great dialogue and increases the level of learning amongst the participants.
There are no geographical barriers to online learning. Learning becomes an exploration as learners use the Internet to retrieve an assortment of articles, books, blogs, etc. that contain information not available to them where they live of work. This expands the learner’s knowledge base and offers them hands-on experience in 21st century tools. Increasing the knowledge, skills, and quality of your employees are key factors in determining your organization’s long-term profitability and sustainability. Investing in your employees, new and current, through training/development will cultivate a greater sense of dignity and self-worth which can transcend into improved work ethics. It also offers employees a sense of satisfaction through the achievement of personal, career, and company goals.
———————————————————————————————————————————-
Resources
Coleman, Stephanie. “Why Do Students Like Online Learning.” World Wide Learn. Web. 10 Aug. 2009. <http://www.worldwidelearn.com/education-articles/benefits-of-online-learning.htm>.
“Employee Training and Development.” BizMove.com. Web. 10 Aug. 2009. <http://www.bizmove.com/personnel/m4d.htm>.
Gormandy White, Mary. “Advantages of Online Learning for Corporate Training.” Associatedcontent.com. Web. 10 Aug. 2009. <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/304058/advantages_of_online_learning_for_corporate.html?cat=55>.
Quinn, Paul. “Online Training Needs Analysis.” TrainingNeedsAnalysis.com.au. 2006. Web. 10 Aug. 2009. <http://www.trainingneedsanalysis.com.au/Online-Training-Needs-Analysis.htm>.
