Diamond giant De Beers has contracted national human capital company Learning Resources to provide an e-learning solution as part of its e-business programme.
The solution implemented by Learning Resources, deployed over the De Beers intranet, uses Click2Learn`s Aspen Enterprise e-Learning Suite to automate the delivery and management of blended learning. It includes IT training content based on the NETg training framework, soft skills content from SkillSoft and proprietary leadership development content from De Beers developed to address organisation-specific requirements.
"We wanted to establish an infrastructure for online learning with an e-learning solution that would enable our employees to quickly develop their knowledge and skills," says Willie Maritz, HR manager for organisational development at De Beers.
"As a South African-based multinational company, we believe e-learning is the optimum way of tying knowledge management into our business objectives which include leadership development, IT development and IT literacy. We can now train our people faster according to specific business drivers. We can also see who is doing what, allowing for better performance administration and reporting."
Maritz adds that e-learning enables De Beers to deliver business value through its intranet, ensuring that training is rolled out quickly and cost-effectively, that more people have access to advancement programmes, and that there is consistency in the company`s training content.
Learning Resources is Click2Learn`s partner in SA. Aspen 2.0, its enterprise learning and productivity application suite, is a comprehensive platform which integrates a learning management system (LMS), a learning content management system (LCMS) and a virtual classroom (VC) in a single, robust architecture.
Summer Ivins, Learning Resources account executive, says companies such as De Beers need to be able to assess organisational needs and develop appropriate content rapidly. "Content must be personalised and learning must be managed and measured strategically so that it can improve performance," says Ivins. "Aspen provides all those capabilities, so learning can directly impact on-the-job productivity."
"The alliance between Click2Learn and Learning Resources was an important factor when we considered the available solutions worldwide," says Maritz. "We believe De Beers stands to benefit from the fact that a portal provider and a content provider have aligned and integrated their products to be able to provide us with a holistic solution that offers a smooth interface."
He adds that other important factors included the quality of courseware content and design, and the applicability of the courseware to De Beers` specific needs. Learning Resources was also able to provide outcomes-based training modules in line with South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) requirements, which makes it easier for the company to report on training initiatives.
"It`s important to De Beers that Learning Resources is a South African company that was able to meet our requirements for a learning management portal. With Click2Learn, Learning Resources has the capacity and capability to meet the current and long-term requirements of a global company like ours. It also has the ability to support us through the change management and implementation process to ensure the solution works. Our decision was also motivated by Learning Resources` service and professional approach to our initial request for information."
Phase one of the implementation has been completed and the system went live in July. This first phase is being rolled out as a proof of concept over 12 to 18 months and will initially be made available to IT staff and all employees involved in the company`s leadership development programme, a total of 500 people.
"During this phase, we will assess the applicability of the different courseware, the delivery methods, our target audiences, and our infrastructure requirements and constraints," says Maritz. "Depending on the results of this phase, we plan to eventually roll-out the solution to the entire organisation.
"Our view is not that e-learning replaces classroom-based training, but that it enhances the capability of an organisation to learn," says Maritz. "We are looking at opportunities to blend the learning experience through e-learning combined with classroom-based training, assignments, diverse learning experiences, coaching, and mentoring. We have already redesigned one of our Leadership Development programmes to embrace this philosophy. On the IT training side, employees will have access to the International Computer Driving Licence, the international computer competency standard. The ICDL raises the level of general competence in IT, improves the confidence and productivity of IT users and enables employers to get better return on IT investment. Also on offer will be courses on Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
However, Maritz points out that the company is not looking at IT training merely from a computer literacy point of view. "We are viewing true IT literacy as critical for management development.
"This starts with a basic understanding of computers, but we are also focusing on equipping our senior staff with an understanding of the IT industry as a whole, and of competitive-edge issues and the impact that IT has on business today."
"Endorsement for the value of e-learning from a company like De Beers provides other local organisations with a point of reference," says Ivins.
Share
Editorial contacts