Benefits of e-learning lost on SMBs
New research reveals small to medium-sized businesses fail to see the benefits of e-Learning
Sevenoaks, UK – 21 October 2009 – Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) do not fully realise the benefits that e-Learning can offer a company of their size, according to new research launched today by e-Learning and advanced content solutions provider, IMC (UK) Learning Ltd.
The survey revealed that only a third (31%) of respondents from small and 45% from medium-sized businesses agreed that online learning can help to reduce the overall cost per head of training employees. In addition, only two in five (43%) respondents from small and half (55%) from medium-sized organisations said that online learning introduces flexibility, reducing loss of productivity from training staff.
The survey, ‘Barriers to training and learning provision in UK organisations – and how to overcome them’, sought to establish the barriers organisations encounter when providing training provision and the ways to overcome them. Respondents were also asked about their attitudes towards, and use of, e-learning tools and emerging technologies for training.
Dr Dirk Thissen, managing director at IMC (UK) Learning Ltd, comments: “The lack of understanding of the benefits that e-Learning can provide SMBs when it comes to the overall cost of training and flexibility is both surprising and worrying – particularly in the current economic climate. In a market showing early signs of recovery, it is more important than ever for SMBs to have an appropriately skilled workforce, whilst maintaining staff productivity, in order to survive and grow. Indirect costs of training and learning, such as disruption to work patterns and time out of the office to train, should be appropriately managed and minimised as far as possible – all of which an e-Learning platform can help with.”
Thissen continues: “E-learning not only offers SMBs flexible training options and minimises the time employees spend out of the office but it also engages learners by providing them with an interactive approach to learning that can be adapted to fit their individual training needs. With the increased development of eLearning tools and web based solutions, such as learning management systems and rapid authoring tools, content can be created quickly and efficiently and all learning activity can be combined in a single platform to match specific business processes.”
The research was conducted online amongst directors, senior managers, operational staff and supervisory staff within small (under 250 employees), medium (251 – 1,000 employees) and large (over 1,000) UK organisations. In total 100 respondents contributed to the findings.
For a copy of the ‘Barriers to training and learning provision in UK organisations – and how to overcome them’ Is the face of training changing’ report please email jonathan.bawden(at)portfoliocomms.com or call 02072406959