Learning Light creates 'Learnscape' - a business-orientated approach to learning consultancy
Learning Light has developed a consultancy model intended to move an organisation from operating a traditional, 'command and control led training' model to becoming a 'learning organisation', where learning makes a positive impact on the organisation's 'bottom line'.
Known as 'Learnscape' - a term initially coined by the US-based e-learning specialist Jay Cross relating to informal learning - the Learning Light consultancy model has been piloted among companies in Yorkshire for the last two years.
Gillian Broadhead, of Learning Light, the Sheffield-based organisation which focuses on promoting the use of e-learning and learning technologies, explained: "When businesses want higher returns in shorter timescales you need to be sure you make the right investment in learning and development.
"In an ever growing global marketplace, employees are a great asset but they must have the right skills and knowledge to be able to keep driving your business forward. We believe that investing in e-learning to develop your employees is key to maintaining a competitive edge."
Broadhead stressed that Learning Light is totally independent of e-learning vendors and distributors and so guarantees to give clients impartial advice, while aligning clients' e-learning strategy with business objectives and identifying where e-learning can address the client's organisational needs effectively.
"We guide clients through the process of developing an e-learning strategy and then measure the impact of that strategy on the client's business - ensuring that clients see a positive return on their investment," pledged Broadhead.
David Patterson, Learning Light's operations director, commented: "The Learnscape approach seeks to create an environment that nurtures continuing learning. That encompasses both formal and informal learning.
"We feel that the Learning Light 'Learnscape' approach is unique in allowing organisations to benefit from the power of social networking tools - moving from, perhaps, fear of, or fascination with, social networking to create a Learnscape which unlocks the power of social learning," he added.
Learning Light consultants work with client organisations to discover their organisational learning strategy and then assess this against the organisation's business plan. Among other things, this produces a list of skills and knowledge gaps that need to be filled within an agreed timescale.
The next step is to evaluate the organisation's 'learning maturity' and facilitate changes so that the organisation becomes a learning organisation, where all staff development activities - both informal and formal - contribute towards the organisation's business plan and 'bottom line'.
Learning Light's aim is to enable organisations to move from a low level of learning maturity - characterised, among other things, by training being seen as an overhead cost rather than an investment; training comprising generic courses, and being reactive - to a high level of learning maturity, characterised by workers being considered as a pool of intellectual capital and learning being related to business strategy and business imperatives.
"There are four key concepts around which we base the principles of a learning organisation," Patterson said. "These are: information gathering and openness; conceptualisation; action learning, and reflection and renewal.
"In order to create a learning organisation, we need to address the organisation's culture; leadership; processes, and infrastructure," he continued. "Having had some two years' experience of implementing this approach within Yorkshire, we're confident that rolling out this approach throughout the UK will bring benefits for our clients - in particular, it should help them ally learning and development activities to bottom line results."
Moreover, in its capacity as a centre of excellence in promoting the use of e-learning and learning technologies, Learning Light is also able to facilitate and manage the learning and development procurement process for client organisations. While being 'vendor neutral', Learning Light has access to over 450 reputable companies in the e-learning sector through its long established Vendor Network.
For further details of Learning Light's Learnscape consultancy model, visit http://www.e-learningcentre.co.uk/About_us/Consultancy and/or contact Learning Light at information@learninglight.com
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