ePath Learning

Here’s a hint…it’s not about the technology!  The key to drive user adoption rates is to focus on the users – not the technology.  When asking people to do something new their immediate thought is “What’s in it for me?” and introducing social networking technology is no different.  You should really have a well thought out plan before you begin.

The first step of your plan should be to identify your user groups and what’s important to them.   In other words – how will adopting this technology benefit them?  Will it make their job easier?  Will it expedite their processes?  Will they be saving time?  Each user group that you identify has different needs, and all of your messaging should be geared towards meeting those users’ needs.  User groups can be broken down by department, functional unit, subject material, etc.

It’s also helpful to identify key influencers within these groups or within your organization that that you know will support your efforts, have influence over others and that will help to communicate your messages.  Typically this is a top down approach securing buy-in at the top of your organization and having your messages trickle down throughout the rest of your ranks.

Engaging your employees through training is also a very important part of your plan.  Your employees will not only need to know how to use the software, but also when they should be using it.  Provide some guidelines and example scenarios that show how to incorporate the system into their workflows for daily use.  You may also want to set policies so users know what is or isn’t considered appropriate usage of the system.

And finally, share your successes with your users…within your social network…not with email!!

-- Susan Distasio, Marketing SME, ePath Learning, Inc.
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Social collaboration tools are powerfully changing the way enterprises conduct their business operations.  These tools provide endless opportunities for informal learning, cultural growth, and optimized business performance.   It’s well known that a considerable amount of workplace learning occurs outside of the classroom through social interactions and networking with colleagues, now organizations can leverage technology to support and sustain social learning in the workplace – turning them into knowledge powerhouses!

Organizations are redefining the way people work together in more collaborative and engaging work environments, and the organizations that adopt informal learning as a strategy will be well positioned for growth and success.  The organizations that are able to embrace and harness this dynamically growing trend will immediately gain competitive advantage.  Make no mistake, social networking certainly can’t replace formal learning, but it enhances and compliments traditional employee training and development programs.

Adopting social collaboration tools is a worthy investment; however, adoption needs to be supported universally throughout the organization, starting at the very top.  For most companies, it’s quite challenging to change their corporate culture to one that is open and collaborative, so companies must persevere and have well thought out strategies to encourage widespread use and adoption.  Transition and adoption will not happen overnight, it may not even happen in several months, but the results in the end will make it time well spent.  Stay in touch for more discussion on informal learning, including:  Social Networking Technology Adoption Considerations.

--Susan Distasio, Marketing SME, ePath Learning Inc.
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Voting for the “Best of Elearning!” awards is currently underway now through May 1^st and ePath Learning, Inc. would like your nomination.  This exclusive “user choice awards” lets you be in control.  You choose the products and services that you like best and we’re hoping that ePath Learning’s ASAP is at the top of your list.  There are 27 categories to choose from ranging from Best LMS, to Best Presentation Tool, to Best IT Content.  Sharpen your pencil, get your list going and support your favorite vendors!  To learn more about the Best of Elearning! Awards, the ballot process, or determining the winners click here: http://www.2elearning.com/events/best-of-elearning-awards.html 

Cast your ballot today and vote for our product “ePath Learning ASAP” in Category 1 - Best Learning Management System (SaaS, Cloud-Based, or Open Source Only).  To validate your ballot include your name, title, email address, company name and telephone number at the bottom of the voting page.

Click the following link to vote: http://tiny.cc/ajgnvw.

Thanks to all…we appreciate your nominations!

- Susan Distasio, Marketing SME, ePath Learning, Inc.

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The McKinsey Global Institute recently released a report stating that many companies are adopting social technologies within their enterprises and that these companies are experiencing measurable benefits from these tools.  Some of the benefits of deploying this type of technology include increased levels of employee productivity, reduced travel costs, increased speed to access internal expertise and increased employee satisfaction.

These are some pretty powerful benefits.  Just think about it – all of these benefits can be correlated to increased revenues and profitability.  All it takes is giving your employees the tools that they need to stay involved and be empowered.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these benefits to see what additional intrinsic value they may hold.

• Increased level of employee productivity:  Given the opportunity, employees with an investment in their organization typically develop strong work ethics.  These employees become more efficient and more productive over a period of time.  Furthermore, these employees become creative and innovative.  Productive employees become great critical thinkers and problem solvers.  Let’s face it – productivity is the fundamental driver for organizational success.

• Reduced travel costs:  Virtual environments can dramatically reduce travel costs.  This is a tangible and easy to measure benefit.  What are some additional benefits?  Employees can spend more time in the office and less time on the road – again this impacts employee productivity levels.  How about work life balance and employee satisfaction?  Less time travelling during off peak hours also means that employees are able to spend more time at home with their families – this can make for a happier employee.

• Increased access to expertise:  How much time and effort does it usually take to find the answers that you need when you’re not even sure where to look for them?  Emails, telephone calls, directed, redirected…not only does this take away from an employee’s productivity, it costs money.  Imagine being able to post a question in an open forum and to immediately get your answer in return.  Better yet, imagine being able to search for the employee who has expertise in the area you seek – answers can be provided in minutes rather than hours or days.  Less time, less costly, great value!

• Increased employee satisfaction:   Satisfied employees generally have improved morale; they are more productive, loyal and have a vested interest in making their organization successful on many different levels.  Most often satisfied employees experience increased longevity with their organization, this mean less expense on employee turnover costs.  Additionally, the longer an employee stays with a company, the more experienced they become – they can be mentors to new employees and an indispensable part of the team.

So what are you waiting for?  Maybe it’s time to start looking into an Enterprise Social Networking solution?  Here’s a good place to start http://www.epathlearning.com/index.php/services/esource.html

-- Susan Distasio, Marketing SME, ePath Learning, Inc.

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