Friday
Dec311999
123 - Special Report from ASTD Conference - Atlanta, GA
December 31, 1999
1. Learning Decisions Perspectives: Social Factors of Learning: 212
Learning Officers and Managers recently attended our first Learning
Decisions Retreat in Las Vegas. One of the "hot" issues that was discussed
was the Social Factors of Learning. The group focused on the critical role
that the culture of an organization plays in the development of learning
programs, strategies and support. As we add technology delivery to the
learning mix, it becomes even more important to address the social factors.
Here is a small sample of the issues that were generated on this topic:
* Reputation of Learning Technologies: What is the "street talk" about the
effectiveness and VALUE of learning via on-line and self-study methods.
What do managers and peers say about people that are taking alternative
routes to learning?
* Reward Considerations of Attending Training: What is the culture of
reward surrounding training and how does that change when people are
learning at their desktops? For example, is permission to attend training
seen as a reward for hard work and a relief from everyday roles. If so,
what happens to the reward element when technology delivered learning is
suggested?
* Coaching and Mentoring Culture: How open are workers to sharing knowledge
with new and veteran employees? Do I give away critical elements of my
unique worth when I share knowledge? Am I making myself less valuable to
the company? Do I receive a reward for assisting others or am I purely
judged on my attention to my own tasks?
* Email Culture: Few organizations in attendance had any programs aimed at
teaching people HOW to use email. As the most widely used computer
application in most organizations, who is setting the tone and process for
corporate communication? What is the protocol for dealing with low priority
email during high stress times?
We will post additional comments from the Learning Decisions '99 retreat
over the coming weeks. The response to this program was so strong that we
have scheduled a special Learning Decisions Executive Seminar @ TechLearn
'99. (http://www.techlearn.com) Attendees of TechLearn who are learning
officers or managers will have the option of attending a high level track to
dialogue on the key issues of Training Alignment with Business, Economics of
Learning and Developing a Strategy for Learning Technology.
2, Stress: Living and Working in a Changing World: One of the members of
our TechLearn Collaborative, Steve McMillen, Director of Executive
Development & Performance Improvement at Hillebrand Industries has
co-authored a great book for our busy times. "Stress: Living and Working in
a Changing World" is a practical look at the challenges of living in the
fast pace of our current society. This is the first book on this topic that
I have read that hits the nail on the head and gives real world suggestions
for coping with the complexity of stress. Check it out at
http://www.amazon.com The authors are Manning, Curtis & McMillen
3. Knowledge Dashboards and Consolidated Views of Information: A theme has
been emerging in the past few weeks from the CEO's of several high tech
companies. In various speeches by Bill Gates and others the concept of a
"knowledge dashboard or performance cockpit" has been heard clearly. The
concept is to provide workers with a highly personalized user interface,
designed with their current needs for information and collaboration and
focused on bringing critical data to their eyeballs without the need to
search or access. A few years ago we were calling this effort "push
technology". Now, the emphasis has changed from seeing it as an application
to seeing it as a design element, hooked to work processes. This is really
where corporate databases, intranets and ERP systems will come alive a the
worker level. Imagine a screen that would reflect the types of information
and knowledge that you need, which is graphical in nature and allows you to
feel connected to every aspect of the workplace. You would have continuous
links to data points, dynamic representations of changing news and knowledge
in your field and collaborative technology to allow you to work with
colleagues, suppliers and customers right from your desktop. This vision
reflects an acceptance that LESS may be MORE. Our workers don't want to
spend the day searching or exploring the intranet or internet. They are
asking for custom views that bring core knowledge to them, to allow them to
get on with the task of work. Watch for this effort to kick in after Y2K!
4. TechLearn '99 New Website Opens - Daryl Conner to Present Keynote: We
are pleased to announce a new website for TechLearn '99 (and the 1999
Computer & IT Training Convention). With over 1,742 registered attendees
already and more than 18 weeks to go, we are rolling out a new on-line
information center for TechLearn. In addition, we are pleased to announce
that Daryl Conner, one of the leading experts on organizational change will
be presenting with me a special keynote focused on the impact of Technology
and Change. Daryl and I are working on an analysis of how technology is
changing our organizations and the role that Organizational Development must
play in helping groups cope with technology. Now is the time to register
for TechLearn '99. We will be beginning a series of pre-conference on-line
learning activities in early summer for all registered attendees. Check out
our new site at http://www.techlearn.com
5. TechLearn Collaborative Open to New Members: There are 12 new spots
available in our TechLearn Collaborative, a small consortium of
organizations exploring the role of learning and technology. The
Collaborative meets at least 4 times per year in person, has more than a
dozen telephone meetings and conferences and is resourced on a continuous
basis by myself and Heinrich Koenen, our Dean at The MASIE Center. Current
Collaborative Members include: . Chase Manhattan Bank, Paine Webber,
Domino's Pizza, KMart, McDonald's, ADL Project, ASTD, HP, Microsoft, Federal
Express and other organizations. Complete details on the TechLearn
Collaborative are available at http://www.masie.com/collaborative
Upcoming MASIE Center Events: (http://www.masie.com)
The Road to On-Line Learning Seminar: June 21 and 22 - Washington, DC
TechLearn '99 (and The 1999 Computer & IT Training Convention) - October 31
to November 3, 1999 - Orlando, FL
Learning Officers and Managers recently attended our first Learning
Decisions Retreat in Las Vegas. One of the "hot" issues that was discussed
was the Social Factors of Learning. The group focused on the critical role
that the culture of an organization plays in the development of learning
programs, strategies and support. As we add technology delivery to the
learning mix, it becomes even more important to address the social factors.
Here is a small sample of the issues that were generated on this topic:
* Reputation of Learning Technologies: What is the "street talk" about the
effectiveness and VALUE of learning via on-line and self-study methods.
What do managers and peers say about people that are taking alternative
routes to learning?
* Reward Considerations of Attending Training: What is the culture of
reward surrounding training and how does that change when people are
learning at their desktops? For example, is permission to attend training
seen as a reward for hard work and a relief from everyday roles. If so,
what happens to the reward element when technology delivered learning is
suggested?
* Coaching and Mentoring Culture: How open are workers to sharing knowledge
with new and veteran employees? Do I give away critical elements of my
unique worth when I share knowledge? Am I making myself less valuable to
the company? Do I receive a reward for assisting others or am I purely
judged on my attention to my own tasks?
* Email Culture: Few organizations in attendance had any programs aimed at
teaching people HOW to use email. As the most widely used computer
application in most organizations, who is setting the tone and process for
corporate communication? What is the protocol for dealing with low priority
email during high stress times?
We will post additional comments from the Learning Decisions '99 retreat
over the coming weeks. The response to this program was so strong that we
have scheduled a special Learning Decisions Executive Seminar @ TechLearn
'99. (http://www.techlearn.com) Attendees of TechLearn who are learning
officers or managers will have the option of attending a high level track to
dialogue on the key issues of Training Alignment with Business, Economics of
Learning and Developing a Strategy for Learning Technology.
2, Stress: Living and Working in a Changing World: One of the members of
our TechLearn Collaborative, Steve McMillen, Director of Executive
Development & Performance Improvement at Hillebrand Industries has
co-authored a great book for our busy times. "Stress: Living and Working in
a Changing World" is a practical look at the challenges of living in the
fast pace of our current society. This is the first book on this topic that
I have read that hits the nail on the head and gives real world suggestions
for coping with the complexity of stress. Check it out at
http://www.amazon.com The authors are Manning, Curtis & McMillen
3. Knowledge Dashboards and Consolidated Views of Information: A theme has
been emerging in the past few weeks from the CEO's of several high tech
companies. In various speeches by Bill Gates and others the concept of a
"knowledge dashboard or performance cockpit" has been heard clearly. The
concept is to provide workers with a highly personalized user interface,
designed with their current needs for information and collaboration and
focused on bringing critical data to their eyeballs without the need to
search or access. A few years ago we were calling this effort "push
technology". Now, the emphasis has changed from seeing it as an application
to seeing it as a design element, hooked to work processes. This is really
where corporate databases, intranets and ERP systems will come alive a the
worker level. Imagine a screen that would reflect the types of information
and knowledge that you need, which is graphical in nature and allows you to
feel connected to every aspect of the workplace. You would have continuous
links to data points, dynamic representations of changing news and knowledge
in your field and collaborative technology to allow you to work with
colleagues, suppliers and customers right from your desktop. This vision
reflects an acceptance that LESS may be MORE. Our workers don't want to
spend the day searching or exploring the intranet or internet. They are
asking for custom views that bring core knowledge to them, to allow them to
get on with the task of work. Watch for this effort to kick in after Y2K!
4. TechLearn '99 New Website Opens - Daryl Conner to Present Keynote: We
are pleased to announce a new website for TechLearn '99 (and the 1999
Computer & IT Training Convention). With over 1,742 registered attendees
already and more than 18 weeks to go, we are rolling out a new on-line
information center for TechLearn. In addition, we are pleased to announce
that Daryl Conner, one of the leading experts on organizational change will
be presenting with me a special keynote focused on the impact of Technology
and Change. Daryl and I are working on an analysis of how technology is
changing our organizations and the role that Organizational Development must
play in helping groups cope with technology. Now is the time to register
for TechLearn '99. We will be beginning a series of pre-conference on-line
learning activities in early summer for all registered attendees. Check out
our new site at http://www.techlearn.com
5. TechLearn Collaborative Open to New Members: There are 12 new spots
available in our TechLearn Collaborative, a small consortium of
organizations exploring the role of learning and technology. The
Collaborative meets at least 4 times per year in person, has more than a
dozen telephone meetings and conferences and is resourced on a continuous
basis by myself and Heinrich Koenen, our Dean at The MASIE Center. Current
Collaborative Members include: . Chase Manhattan Bank, Paine Webber,
Domino's Pizza, KMart, McDonald's, ADL Project, ASTD, HP, Microsoft, Federal
Express and other organizations. Complete details on the TechLearn
Collaborative are available at http://www.masie.com/collaborative
Upcoming MASIE Center Events: (http://www.masie.com)
The Road to On-Line Learning Seminar: June 21 and 22 - Washington, DC
TechLearn '99 (and The 1999 Computer & IT Training Convention) - October 31
to November 3, 1999 - Orlando, FL
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