179 - New Views of Tomorrow's IT Workers; Results of Survey on Pricing of e-Learning

1. New Views of Tomorrow's IT Workers: Notes from San Juan: I had the honor
of addressing the Summit on Information Technology sponsored by the
Government of Puerto Rico. The conversation focused on the changing nature
of the IT Worker of the future. Here were a few of the key concepts that
were presented:

* The IT Worker will need excellent business skills as well as technical skills
* The IT Worker will require cross-platform and multi-vendor skills sets,
combining vendor certifications with portfolios of experience
* The IT Worker will need a high "learning capability" - their ability to rapidly and
continuously learn new skills and technologies
* The IT Worker will more likely work in a business unit rather than an IT Group.
* The IT Worker will definitely NOT be called an IT Worker
* The IT Worker will more likely work with media objects (e.g.. audio and video)
rather than just database text and numbers
* The IT Worker will get the majority of their IT Skills from a source other than a
university or college.

We will have a MEGA Session at TechLearn 2000 (www.techlearn.com) focusing
on the IT Worker of the future. If you have any thoughts on this issue, send me an email
to emasie@masie.com

2. Results of Survey on Pricing of e-Learning: Learning Decisions July survey addressed
expectations and perceptions surrounding the price of e-learning offerings. Nearly 1200
learning and training professionals provided benchmarking data from July 20-25, 2000.
We asked respondents to assume that there is an excellent, trainer-led course called Project
Management. It lasts 3 days and the tuition is $925 per student. It is delivered in a classroom
environment. Here are some highlights:

1. If the classroom version of the course is $925, I would expect the e-learning version to cost:

* Less than the classroom version: Less than $925........ 79.0%
* The same as the classroom version: $925................ 16.5%
* More than the classroom version: Greater than $925...... 4.5%

Average Price Indicated........ $785
Median Price indicated......... $595

2. How do the following components impact the price that you are willing to pay?

An instructor that gives live (synchronous) seminars delivered on-line
Significant..... 57.7% Moderate........ 32.9% None............. 9.4%

Simulation
Significant..... 52.6% Moderate........ 39.0% None............. 8.4%

Immediate access to an instructor via email for questions and clarifications (less than 2 hour turn around)
Significant..... 49.1% Moderate........ 41.9% None............ 9.0%

Technical support
Significant..... 45.3% Moderate........ 34.5% None............ 20.2%

An instructor to monitor progress and prompt students along
Significant..... 42.9% Moderate........ 41.6% None............ 15.5%

Telephone access to an instructor
Significant..... 41.8% Moderate........ 43.5% None............ 14.7%

Testing and assessment capabilities
Significant..... 39.7% Moderate........ 42.4% None............ 17.9%

Streamed audio or video segments
Significant..... 39.0% Moderate........ 39.4% None............ 21.6%

Access to an instructor for questions and clarifications (1 day turnaround)
Significant..... 28.3% Moderate........ 52.8% None............ 18.9%

Threaded discussions and chat
Significant..... 20.6% Moderate........ 48.2% None............ 31.2%

Printed text book
Significant..... 20.4% Moderate........ 43.5% None............ 36.1%

Complete analysis of these results are available to Learning Decisions Subscribers
(subscribe at www.learningdecisions.com)

3. Air Rage is Often Consumer Rights! A Personal Rant: I was a perfect example of what
the media has labeled "air rage" on our flight from Puerto Rico to New York yesterday.
First, the plane's departure was a hour late, due to a crew timing issue. Not a word of apology,
not a word of how it might impact our ability to get back to New York and not a bit of
information disseminated at the gate. When we landed in Philadelphia, there
was only 15 minutes until our departure. We ran the blocks to the gate and when we arrived,
were told that the plane was "closed". No checking of the computer to see that 2 passengers
were running from a plane that has just arrived. No apology. Hmm...and I had paid $1,800 for a
round trip ticket.
So, I threw my ticket on the counter and demanded... "But, has it left?"
The counter person said no, it's at the gate, but it is closed. So, I ran to the door... bellowing..
"Stop the plane!". Well, perhaps due to my emotional state or perhaps when he saw my mileage
level, he came down and let me on the plane. Hey, we all know the air system is overloaded and
that air traffic and weather delays will happen. But, let's use the I in IT, the INFORMATION
component to honor the passenger side of the contract.
Place kiosks throughout the airport and allow us to see the real situation with our flights
and our options on other airlines. Let us use IT as a tool to even the game in the airline industry.
Imagine an e-BAY at an airport where an airline company can't fly 50 people to a destination
....allow a local charter company the ability to bid on that and use the value of their tickets.
Imagine the ability to go on-line from our hotel rooms or even our cell-phones and see what our choices are for routing. As long as airlines constrict information, reduce choice and never apologize, consumers will
seethe. Sorry about the rant ... but I do spend 150 days a year on airplanes and yesterday, I just decided
to not take it! Thanks for listening!

4. New TechLearn Site Up and Running! Our webmaster, Jeremy Little designed
a new website for TechLearn 2000, check it out at www.techlearn.com There
are now 1,256 folks registered for the event to be held in Orlando from November 12 to 15th.