At the heart of a fast-growing company, Paul, the HR manager, sat in his office staring thoughtfully at his computer screen. It was one of those days when the to-do list seemed endless and coffee consumption was reaching dangerous levels. His most important task was to find an effective training programme for employees. But the more he researched, the more he asked himself the question: ‘Is it actually possible to manage learning?’
He wasn't just referring to the fact that progress in further training and qualifications gained couldn't be documented somehow. No, that wouldn't be the issue. Rather, Paul knew that learning is a very individual process. Every employee learns in their own way, and that didn't exactly make the task easy. After all, there were almost 1,700 people in total to manage. “Maybe I should just send everyone to the same seminar,” he muttered to himself. But then he came across the term ‘LEARNING MANAGEMENT’ and began to delve deeper into the subject.
LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LMS): WHAT IS THAT?
During his research, Paul came across a tool called a Learning Management System, or LMS for short. “Learning Management,” he said quietly to himself, trying to savour the sound of the words as if it were a secret ingredient in a perfect recipe. He learned that an LMS is a platform that structures and supports an organisation's entire learning process. ‘That's exactly what I need!’ he thought to himself and clicked on.
Interestingly, he found out that GLOBAL TEACH® was one of the pioneers in the field of LMS systems. SWISSTEACH AG, an LMS E-LEARNING AGENCY, had already developed one of the first LMS in the 1990s. ‘Who would have thought that the 90s weren't just known for boy bands and colourful clothing,’ thought Paul with a grin. An LMS not only provides a platform for learning content, but also for administration and communication between teachers and learners. But what exactly is behind the term LMS?
‘It's like a conductor in an orchestra,’ he imagined. ‘The conductor somehow manages the orchestra, making sure that everyone plays the right thing at the right time, creating a harmonious work of art.’ Paul began to take a closer look at the core functions of an LMS and DIGITAL EMPLOYEE TRAINING and realised that a well-managed LMS offers many advantages.
LMS MANAGEMENT: CORE FUNCTIONS OF AN LMS
LMS management: Course management and creation
One of the first things that caught Paul's eye about LMS was the course management and creation. Teachers can create, organise, and manage courses. ‘It's like a construction kit for educational content,’ Paul thought. This would allow him to develop customised learning paths for employees. “Finally, I can end the Excel nightmare!” Paul said happily. It was no secret that a number of part-time employees in his area of responsibility were doing precisely this task of maintaining qualification matrices and creating certificates. The idea that he could organise courses exactly according to the needs of the employees was extremely reassuring. In addition, the freed-up capacity could be utilised much more efficiently for more important tasks. After all, nobody likes doing something so mindless in the long term!
LMS management: User administration
Another highlight of the LMS was user management. Such a platform enables the management of different user roles. Paul realised that this would be particularly useful for controlling access to learning content and ensuring that every employee gets the resources they need. ‘It's like having a magic bunch of keys,’ Paul thought. ‘Everyone only gets the keys they really need.’ He could almost see the huge mountain of paperwork disappearing from his office, replaced by a clear, digital structure.
LMS management: Progress tracking and evaluation
One of the features that particularly impressed Paul was the ability to track and assess learners' progress. ‘No more guesswork at last,’ he thought. This would help him to monitor his employees' learning progress and ensure they were on the right track. ‘Like a fitness tracker, but for the mind,’ he thought and laughed softly. This function would help him to respond specifically to employees' needs and ensure that no one was left behind. In addition, tracking the progress of individual qualifications is also the first step towards carrying out a target/actual comparison between the workforce and the target status. The number of employees had already exceeded the 1000 mark for several years. This made it extremely difficult for everyone involved to recognise qualification gaps. ‘This would make things a lot easier for us - especially in view of what feels like 56 audits a year! Recognising and reacting to qualification gaps at the touch of a button. That's how I imagine it!’, thought Paul, pouring himself another coffee from his office machine.
LMS management: Communication and collaboration
Paul recognised that an LMS also supports the social aspect of learning. Forums, chats, and messaging functions would promote dialogue and collaboration between employees. ‘Like a coffee break, but digital,’ he reflected. This was particularly important, as the exchange of ideas and knowledge is essential in a fast-growing company. Paul imagined how employees would discuss, solve problems, and learn from each other in virtual spaces.
LMS management: Content creation and management
With the versatile features of an LMS, content could be created, organised, and managed effortlessly. The LMS would give Paul the flexibility to seamlessly integrate different learning resources and tools. ‘Like a big toolbox,’ he thought enthusiastically. ‘Everything I need in one place and available at any time.’ This flexibility would allow him to keep the learning content up to date and respond quickly to the company's changing requirements. In addition, he could develop customised training programmes that were precisely tailored to the needs of his employees. ‘Learning Management really does seem to be an all-in-one solution,’ Paul thought with satisfaction, feeling really optimistic for the first time that day.
LMS MANAGEMENT: LEARNING MUST BE MANAGED
After intensive research and many considerations regarding an LMS, Paul came to the conclusion that learning not only can but must be managed. Especially in a company like his, which is growing rapidly and constantly changing, effective LMS management is essential. A good LMS would help him to structure training programmes and develop employees' skills in a targeted manner.
Paul imagined how he would choose the right LMS for his company. He would not only look at the features, but also find the right service provider that understood and could support his company's needs. ‘It's like choosing the perfect partner,’ he mused. ‘You have to be able to rely on each other. And I don't want to be just a customer number either. I need someone who is also available as soon as there are inconsistencies or questions. And they're guaranteed to come!’
At the end of the day, Paul was convinced that LMS and learning management is not only possible, but necessary to be successful in today's fast-paced, information-driven world. With a good LMS at his side, he would be able to ensure that his employees were always well trained and prepared. ‘Learning may be individual,’ Paul thought, ‘but with the right management, we can get the best out of everyone.’
He leant back, took a last sip of coffee, and smiled. The challenge that had initially overwhelmed him now seemed like an exciting opportunity. “Learning Management,” he said quietly once more, savouring the sound of the words. “This will take our company to the next level.”
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