Whenever it comes to discussing how to best use technology, learning systems, or lacrosse sticks, and whether using it will make a difference, it always comes down to the same thing... "It's not the tool, but the one who wields it" that scores the goal... That takes preparation...
This means that the future of Enterprise 2.0, social tools, mobile, or any other advances in eLearning will depend highly on whether those who implement these tools to make business critical and or academic information available - are mapping the right tools, to the right job roles, and for the right reasons. It all comes down to needs analysis and how providers design a set of learning and knowledge management systems around those needs.
As a learning or knowledge management professional, what can you do?
- Conduct a needs analysis.
- Identify the organizations goals and business drivers.
- Identify critical job- and team-based tasks.
- Understand the parameters of the work environment and its context.
- Know your learners and knowledge consumers.
- Involve all stakeholders in the process (IT, HR, Operations, any business unit that may be "touched")
- Avoid the "flavor of the month..."do not implement a new technology just because everyone else is using it.
- Bring in experts when you need them
- Choose the right tools for the right jobs
