Lack of Reporting and Integration are Biggest LMS Challenges

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Research From Expertus and Training Industry, Inc. Highlight Challenges in Gaining Efficiency From Learning Management Systems

Mountain View, CA – June 18, 2008 – Expertus (www.expertus.com), a global provider of services that optimize the business impact of learning, today released the findings of its newest highly anticipated study, Training Efficiency: Optimizing Learning Technology. The research, conducted in collaboration with Training Industry, Inc., uncovered the impact that various practices, LMS functionalities and other factors (such as time since implementation) had on expected LMS efficiency gains. Results from the research can be viewed at: http://www.trainingefficiency.com/system/files/Survey+Results_TechOptimization_TrainingEfficiency.com_Jun10.pdf and will be discussed in an upcoming webinar on June 24.

According to the research, the most frequently cited challenges or obstacles in using LMS functionalities to increase efficiency are lack of integration and inflexible reporting capabilities. Interestingly, these two challenges were also reported among the biggest problems in learning measurement in a June 2007 Expertus and Training Industry, Inc. study (see http://www.expertus.com/survey/results6/LearningMeasuremt.pdf). Without effective reporting and system integration, it is difficult to provide internal stakeholders with meaningful metrics about the impact of training on the business. Instead, training departments must rely on volume and activity-based metrics (e.g. courses, hours, registrations or test scores).

“An LMS ought to serve as the hub for efficient practices within a learning organization, but we are increasingly seeing how organizations underutilize or are frustrated with LMS capabilities,” said Mohana Radhakrishnan, Vice President of Client Services for Expertus. “However, in many cases, it’s not actually LMS issues, it is lack of optimization. Our upcoming webinar will address several strategies to reveal ways to overcome several of these challenges.”

In addition to lack of integration and inflexible reporting capabilities, respondents also indicated the following are key challenge areas in getting the most from their LMS. (For additional details, please see complete report at: http://www.trainingefficiency.com/system/files/Survey+Results_TechOptimization_TrainingEfficiency.com_Jun10.pdf.)

• Lack of user acceptance & responsibility
• Slow, old-school technology
• Lack of resources
• Adapting processes to LMS software
• Lack of consolidation with other LMS platforms

“The benefits of an LMS can be enormous, but it requires the appropriate level of integration with enterprise systems to optimize its effectiveness. Many organizations can benefit from experienced consultation to help realize its capabilities,” said Doug Harward, CEO of Training Industry, Inc. “This research is a graphic depiction of how LMSs are not simply plug-and-play. They require a great deal of attention to optimize their potential. In many cases, simple solutions and best practices exist, but you need to reach outside to find them.”

Training Efficiency: Optimizing Learning Technology revealed some other interesting findings, including:

• An LMS has the strongest impact on being compliance ready as well as helping learners more efficiently and easily find and register for training, and reducing administration costs.

• An LMS has the weakest impact on employee productivity, which is also the least understood area of expected LMS impact.

• The LMS functionality that generates the strongest efficiency gain is content management, followed closely by roster management and scheduling.

• Companies that outsource administration to an external partner and integrate their LMS with other systems have stronger efficiency gains than those who do not.

• The longer a company has an LMS, the higher its efficiency gains in nearly all areas. After the third year of implementation, companies experience the most consistent efficiency gains.

These and more survey findings will be discussed in-depth during a webinar, “Secrets of Successful Learning Systems: 6 Ways to Unlock Hidden Value,” on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. To register, visit www.expertus.com/webinar2/pr. The one-hour webinar will be hosted by Josh Bersin, president of Bersin & Associates, a research and advisory firm focused on enterprise learning and talent management.

Training Efficiency: Optimizing Learning Technology was a survey of 53 training leaders, most of whom manage or serve as an administrator of an enterprise-wide LMS. Respondents’ organizations varied in their initial LMS investments, number of learners their LMS supported, and time since LMS implementation. This was the second of four surveys in 2008 to gather market data on efficiency in training organizations as part of the 2008 Training Efficiency Masters Series. For more information on the research or Expertus, log on to http://www.TrainingEfficiency.com, visit the Expertus Pressroom at http://www.expertus.com/about/pressroom.html, or call 877-827-8160.

About Expertus
Expertus is the leading global provider of services that optimize the business impact of learning. For more than a decade, the firm’s 500+ learning management professionals have defined and implemented plans, processes and technologies that transform training organizations – creating measurable value for the world’s most successful corporations. Clients include ADP, Cisco, ConocoPhillips, EMC, Honeywell and Lockheed Martin. Every day at these and other companies, more than a million employees, customers and business partners are educated as a result of Expertus’ innovative business strategies, outsourcing services and technology-rich solutions.

Based in Silicon Valley, Expertus serves its clients from offices in the US, UK and India. For more information, visit www.expertus.com, or call toll-free 1-877-827-8160.

About Training Industry, Inc.
Training Industry, Inc is an objective and trusted expert on the marketplace for learning. Its mission is to make the marketplace more efficient through the world’s largest online community of training communities and through services such as Training Industry Conferences, Training Industry Quarterly Ezine, Training Industry Webinars and Training Industry Research. For more information, please contact info@trainingindustry.com or visit our website at www.trainingindustry.com.