Talent Management
An organization’s talent management encompasses the acquisition and strategic development of talent, as well as leadership’s responsibility to the organization’s culture that attracts talent to the company.
Think Like a Pilot to Remedy Performance Issues in the Enterprise
The Institute of Medicine estimates that between 45,000 and 98,000 patients die every year as a result of medical mistakes in hospitals. That number includes instruments accidentally left inside patients on the operating table. Imagine if surgeons and doc
Don’t Use a Hammer When You Need a Screwdriver
Self-paced, Web-based learning and Web conferencing are powerful tools to address an organization’s communication and training needs. Since each tool has its own strengths and limitations, organizations should use these online learning modes in the most e
How to Create a Visual Brand Identity
Creating a visual identity for a company’s brand is crucial for competing and surviving in today’s global marketplace. Even large companies with defined corporate images do not always take into consideration the visual aspect of their brand and the differ
E-Learning Lessons: Compliance and IT Innovation
As the IT market gets more comfortable with the idea of recovery, speculations abound regarding "the next big thing" and which market segments stand to gain the most when IT spending returns to a more fluid pace. While some markets waned or simply disa
Translating Lofty Goals Into Action
In prior columns, I’ve talked about an execution gap in organizations—the gap between setting a goal and achieving it. To close the execution gap, leaders must practice four disciplines of execution: focus on the wildly important goal, create a compelling
Using Models to Manage Strategic Learning Investments
Gone are the days of technologies looking for a problem to solve. Today, technology investments must be strategic and driven by an organization’s business focus. However, not everyone fully realizes the strategic importance of technology investments
The Strategic Benefits of Learning Outsourcing
Outsourcing key business functions is a common strategy for information technology and human resources departments. Having other companies do the administrative work or host the technology allows these departments to free up their resources to devote more
Performance-Based Succession Planning
Developing direct reports is the responsibility of each and every supervisor. Succession planning provides a direct and easy-to-follow model for strategic talent management. Viewing employee development from the organizational perspective of succession pl
Steelcase University: Sticking to a Value Proposition
The year was 2000. Steelcase Inc., a global office furniture industry leader, gave a tactical nod to its “knowledge company” commitment with the opening of Steelcase University (SCU), a facility that redefines the traditional “bricks and mortar” learning
Upgrading Performance and Targeting Learning
Business as usual no longer applies. The routine is now the exception to the norm, and the familiar has become almost exotic. In short, the workplace is in a constant state of flux and stretch. What is perhaps startling is that it is nevertheless succeedi
Chief Learning Officer, First Citizens Bank
This position directly manages the delivery of learning solutions for the organization. To accomplish this, the incumbent continually assesses the need for learning solutions as dictated by corporate goals and initiatives and ensures proactive delivery of
Head/Director, Health Plan Institute
At approximately $25 billion in revenues and 136,000 employees nationwide, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals (KFHP/H) is America's largest not-for-profit health maintenance organization.
CLO as CEO: Ultimate Presumption or Natural Progression?
Recently, Chief Learning Officer magazine put together and distributed a four-page survey seeking perceptions of current and subsequent issues affecting the future directions of CLOs. Although comprehensive and detailed, the survey wisely invited responde
Capturing Learning Opportunities
Businesspeople often ask us what it takes to survive and profit in competitive and volatile market conditions. The common solution is to offer improved products and services. This is partially true. However, improvements are only the expected results, not
Outsourcing Learning: Choosing the Model for Success
With increasing pressures to provide more return on investment for their training initiatives, many organizations are taking a more strategic view of vendor relationships and outsourcing. Synonymous primarily with software services and back-office process