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Sep132005

344 - Training Outsourcing Myths and Katrina Learning Assistance

Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - Sept 13, 2005.
#344 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
50,869 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2005: Oct 30 - Nov 2 - Orlando, Florida.

1. Training Outsourcing Myths: More About Sourcing & Partnering.
2. VSKOOL.ORG - Katrina e-Learning for Schools Effort.
3. Where's Elliott Speaking?

1. Training Outsourcing Myths - More About Sourcing & Partnering: While the topic of "training outsourcing" seems to be a hot discussion topic, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about this trend. Here are a few perspectives and an upcoming dialogue that we will host:

* Most "training outsourcing" is really an extension of Human Resource IT and Transaction Sourcing. Most of the key contracts have been extensions of corporate sourcing of the IT side of HR, extended to the IT side of Learning. This results in the sourcing of LMS, LCMS and transactions.

* Another arena of "training outsourcing" has been the partnering with a key supplier to do most or even all of the design/production of learning programs for a specific area of content. These have been both on-shore and off-shore. Most of these contracts have not included the sourcing for Strategy, but rather are a deep partnership on instructional design, project management and production.

* Vendor Management is another and different dimension of the outsourcing conversation. We are seeing a number of large enterprises that are giving a contract to a partner to manage the wide range of supplier and vendor contracts in the learning arena. This either is on the basis of subcontracts or a larger "uber" contract.

* There is nothing new about "Sourcing". In fact, a large percentage of money spent on training has been sourced to trusted providers for years.
While the conversation about "outsourcing" seems large and growing, the reality on the ground is more about strategic sourcing.

* The "outsourcing" conversation often yields fear and loathing on the staffing trail. We would urge that organizations approach these dialogues with both care and realism. We are seeing more and more learning projects produced and managed externally. We are seeing more and more organizations turn to deeper sourcing and partnerning. But, the full bore "training outsource" - where the training department goes away and all of the function is now done by a vendor - is not a large reality.

I have invited six Chief Learning Officers and several learning suppliers to have a more rational conversation about the Sourcing and Partnering process at our upcoming Learning 2005 event. We will report the results of those conversations in a future TRENDS.

2. VSKOOL.ORG - Katrina e-Learning for Schools Effort: The MASIE Center's Learning CONSORTIUM has joined VSKOOL.ORG, a coalition of groups providing e-Learning resources to children who are not able to attend their schools following the aftermath of Katrina. If your company would like to help with this project, please send me a note to emasie@masie.com

3. Where's Elliott Speaking? Because there has been a significant change in the landscape of conferences this Fall for our field, some folks have asked me to clarify where The MASIE Center will be presenting (or not
presenting):

* Learning 2005. We are the host and I am one of the keynoters.
* Chief Learning Officer Symposium. I will be one of the keynoters.
* ASTD's TechKnowledge Conference. I will be one of the keynoters.

(Note: We have sold TechLearn and The MASIE Center is not involved in
this event in any form. We are also not involved with the VNU Training
Conferences).

Complete information on Learning 2005 can be found at http://www.learning2005.com

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