Comments on: Close the Training Department http://www.jarche.com/2009/01/close-the-training-department/ Life in Perpetual Beta Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:59:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Big Question: Workplace Learning in 10 Years « Performance X Design http://www.jarche.com/2009/01/close-the-training-department/comment-page-1/#comment-253505 The Big Question: Workplace Learning in 10 Years « Performance X Design Fri, 04 Mar 2011 02:25:35 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=2102#comment-253505 [...] here is a list of some of my hopeful winners over the next ten years.  I don’t believe, as Harold does, that training function should be put out of it’s misery but I do hope that we can change [...] [...] here is a list of some of my hopeful winners over the next ten years.  I don’t believe, as Harold does, that training function should be put out of it’s misery but I do hope that we can change [...]

]]> By: I’m not listening…la..la..la..la « Long Tail Learning http://www.jarche.com/2009/01/close-the-training-department/comment-page-1/#comment-186781 I’m not listening…la..la..la..la « Long Tail Learning Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:14:20 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=2102#comment-186781 [...] 19, 2009 · No Comments Harold Jarche and Jay Cross recently discussed the idea of closing down the training department and getting out [...] [...] 19, 2009 · No Comments Harold Jarche and Jay Cross recently discussed the idea of closing down the training department and getting out [...]

]]> By: Low Cost Option for Training : Rethink, Re-utilize and Repurpose « EscP Consulting http://www.jarche.com/2009/01/close-the-training-department/comment-page-1/#comment-186761 Low Cost Option for Training : Rethink, Re-utilize and Repurpose « EscP Consulting Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:05:54 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=2102#comment-186761 [...] Industry specialists are talking about the need to rethink your training initiatives, or even closing your training department and your budget has been either frozen or reduced by a fair [...] [...] Industry specialists are talking about the need to rethink your training initiatives, or even closing your training department and your budget has been either frozen or reduced by a fair [...]

]]> By: Harold Jarche http://www.jarche.com/2009/01/close-the-training-department/comment-page-1/#comment-186599 Harold Jarche Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:55:13 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=2102#comment-186599 Thanks for sharing your story, Joe. Getting more data points helps to confirm my own experiences. Thanks for sharing your story, Joe. Getting more data points helps to confirm my own experiences.

]]> By: Joe http://www.jarche.com/2009/01/close-the-training-department/comment-page-1/#comment-186597 Joe Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:22:39 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=2102#comment-186597 My last days in the corporate world (a large US data provider) were full of course building nonsense. No one wanted to attend the course (do you want to attend a course?) in person or electronically. The only way to get people to do it was to put that word "mandatory" in front of it. Or have the legal department issue threats. Oh, what a great learning environment! I worked (covertly) to help small groups build wikis and it worked. Then I was threatened with termination for working on non-departmental projects. I left a month later and took a job at a cool independent school. Lots of corporate traditions will be ending, and the training department is one of them. It's simply not a good use of resources. To be sure, lots of companies will continue to have a training department - but you have to wonder how long those companies will be around. I used to worry when the layoffs were happening cause we all know training is one of the first places to be cut. But then I realized it made sense.... My last days in the corporate world (a large US data provider) were full of course building nonsense. No one wanted to attend the course (do you want to attend a course?) in person or electronically. The only way to get people to do it was to put that word “mandatory” in front of it. Or have the legal department issue threats. Oh, what a great learning environment! I worked (covertly) to help small groups build wikis and it worked. Then I was threatened with termination for working on non-departmental projects. I left a month later and took a job at a cool independent school.

Lots of corporate traditions will be ending, and the training department is one of them. It’s simply not a good use of resources. To be sure, lots of companies will continue to have a training department – but you have to wonder how long those companies will be around. I used to worry when the layoffs were happening cause we all know training is one of the first places to be cut. But then I realized it made sense….

]]> By: Mike’s Doc Blog » Blog Archive » Transitioning to Performance http://www.jarche.com/2009/01/close-the-training-department/comment-page-1/#comment-186576 Mike’s Doc Blog » Blog Archive » Transitioning to Performance Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:38:02 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=2102#comment-186576 [...] Jarche blogged about Close the Training Department. Harold talks about the use of social media, or as I often call it collaborative learning [...] [...] Jarche blogged about Close the Training Department. Harold talks about the use of social media, or as I often call it collaborative learning [...]

]]> By: Harold Jarche http://www.jarche.com/2009/01/close-the-training-department/comment-page-1/#comment-186565 Harold Jarche Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:54:45 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=2102#comment-186565 When the change in our workplace structures happens it will come quickly, as the need has been building over the past few decades. Management experts like Gary Hamel and Thomas Malone point to new work models, which companies like Semco and WL Gore have already embraced and Cisco is seriously implementing. Work by Dave Pollard and Jon Husband is looking at ways to operationalize a new work structure through natural enterprises or wirearchy. The future is here, it's just unevenly distributed. When the change in our workplace structures happens it will come quickly, as the need has been building over the past few decades. Management experts like Gary Hamel and Thomas Malone point to new work models, which companies like Semco and WL Gore have already embraced and Cisco is seriously implementing. Work by Dave Pollard and Jon Husband is looking at ways to operationalize a new work structure through natural enterprises or wirearchy. The future is here, it’s just unevenly distributed.

]]> By: Ken Allan http://www.jarche.com/2009/01/close-the-training-department/comment-page-1/#comment-186558 Ken Allan Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:14:52 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=2102#comment-186558 Kia ora Harold! Complexity theory, huh? Now you're talking. Adaptive/emergent - okay okay. So we have to get rid of the clockwork insides first, for as long as they are rusting there there's no way we're gonna change. Besides, coffee just rusts them all the more. Hmmm. So we have to get rid of the structure and replace it with what? And who legislates (approves) that this change takes place? I fear! I fear, you are discussing all this with the wrong person for change to take place where I work. I've yet to smell any aorma of coffee, but I'm awake, and not with the coffee. Catchya later from Middle-earth Kia ora Harold!

Complexity theory, huh? Now you’re talking.

Adaptive/emergent – okay okay. So we have to get rid of the clockwork insides first, for as long as they are rusting there there’s no way we’re gonna change. Besides, coffee just rusts them all the more.

Hmmm. So we have to get rid of the structure and replace it with what? And who legislates (approves) that this change takes place? I fear!

I fear, you are discussing all this with the wrong person for change to take place where I work. I’ve yet to smell any aorma of coffee, but I’m awake, and not with the coffee.

Catchya later
from Middle-earth

]]> By: Give your Training a Health Check « EscP Consulting’s Weblog http://www.jarche.com/2009/01/close-the-training-department/comment-page-1/#comment-186554 Give your Training a Health Check « EscP Consulting’s Weblog Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:51:52 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=2102#comment-186554 [...] Industry specialists are talking about the need to rethink your training initatives, or even closing your training department and your budget has been either frozen or reduced by a fair [...] [...] Industry specialists are talking about the need to rethink your training initatives, or even closing your training department and your budget has been either frozen or reduced by a fair [...]

]]> By: Dennis Coxe http://www.jarche.com/2009/01/close-the-training-department/comment-page-1/#comment-186541 Dennis Coxe Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:31:02 +0000 http://www.jarche.com/?p=2102#comment-186541 Harold, from a workplace perspective you probably are correct, from a theoretical perspective, in stating that the course-driven learning arrangement needs to come to an end. Social media cannot be pigeon-holed into a formal learning environment. What will hold it back is the two-headed snake of legal concerns and past precedent. By legal concerns businesses rightly or wrongly have to worry extensively about the message communicated to employees regarding the business and its processes. At the very least they will require a base line on which all informal learning will spring from. It's the "corporate line." This leads to the snake's second head, how is that corporate line delivered. Compliance, legal, and upper management are not going to be content to just put a memo, or, if they are early adapters, an audio/video message from the CEO, and let the worker bees to view it or not. That's where the infamous LMS comes into play. They will want to track who has seen/heard the message and they want a test to ensure the message sunk in (at least temporarily). We are creatures of habit and, as a result of the industrial age, we have come to the conclusion that formal training is the only way to deliver that message. Sorry, but I don't think the classroom/elearning model is going away any time soon. To turn that model over to lawyers or compliance people is asking to turn out even worse material. Believe me, I know. I work for an training and development firm that let its IT department develop computer compliance training using "rapid development" tools. It was the most painful instruction I ever received. Pages of PowerPoint slides converted to a captivate file. Lots of jargon and legalize that meant nothing to me. As an instructional designer could I have done better? I would like to believe so. If I can at least weed the garden of the unnecessary materials and keep what the end user needs to know then I think I have done a service. Harold, from a workplace perspective you probably are correct, from a theoretical perspective, in stating that the course-driven learning arrangement needs to come to an end. Social media cannot be pigeon-holed into a formal learning environment.

What will hold it back is the two-headed snake of legal concerns and past precedent. By legal concerns businesses rightly or wrongly have to worry extensively about the message communicated to employees regarding the business and its processes. At the very least they will require a base line on which all informal learning will spring from. It’s the “corporate line.”

This leads to the snake’s second head, how is that corporate line delivered. Compliance, legal, and upper management are not going to be content to just put a memo, or, if they are early adapters, an audio/video message from the CEO, and let the worker bees to view it or not. That’s where the infamous LMS comes into play. They will want to track who has seen/heard the message and they want a test to ensure the message sunk in (at least temporarily). We are creatures of habit and, as a result of the industrial age, we have come to the conclusion that formal training is the only way to deliver that message.

Sorry, but I don’t think the classroom/elearning model is going away any time soon. To turn that model over to lawyers or compliance people is asking to turn out even worse material. Believe me, I know. I work for an training and development firm that let its IT department develop computer compliance training using “rapid development” tools. It was the most painful instruction I ever received. Pages of PowerPoint slides converted to a captivate file. Lots of jargon and legalize that meant nothing to me. As an instructional designer could I have done better? I would like to believe so. If I can at least weed the garden of the unnecessary materials and keep what the end user needs to know then I think I have done a service.

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