Professional Partner Content
5 Steps to a Data-Driven Approach to Learning
Published Mon Aug 06 2018
Brought to you by
“A data driven approach is used to optimize how your organization manages and deploys learning and development to support the execution of your business strategy” (Chief Learning Officer 2015).
Content
Most organizations understand the value of data and are trying to use data to tune their operations. The challenge is rooted in a simple question: Where do you start?
Most organizations understand the value of data and are trying to use data to tune their operations. The challenge is rooted in a simple question: Where do you start?
Content
When it comes to data and analytics capabilities, the feedback we at Lambda Solutions have gotten from our audience has been consistent: The reporting capabilities users get from their learning management systems do not allow them to truly understand the effectiveness of their learning and training programs. Without the ability to extract the right data and use that data to understand the impact of learning, a data-driven approach is near impossible.
When it comes to data and analytics capabilities, the feedback we at Lambda Solutions have gotten from our audience has been consistent: The reporting capabilities users get from their learning management systems do not allow them to truly understand the effectiveness of their learning and training programs. Without the ability to extract the right data and use that data to understand the impact of learning, a data-driven approach is near impossible.
Content
Here are some of the typical barriers you might face when trying to implement data-driven approaches.
Here are some of the typical barriers you might face when trying to implement data-driven approaches.
Content
Your LMS has limited access to data.
Your LMS has limited access to data.
Content
You’re looking for specific outcomes, but your LMS doesn’t provide adequate access to that information.
You’re looking for specific outcomes, but your LMS doesn’t provide adequate access to that information.
Content
Your LMS is limited in capabilities to analyze data; you might be able to build the reports you need, but you can’t slice up the pie and look at each piece individually.
Your LMS is limited in capabilities to analyze data; you might be able to build the reports you need, but you can’t slice up the pie and look at each piece individually.
Content
Your LMS has limited options to present and share data.
Your LMS has limited options to present and share data.
Content
You have limited time. Time is often the biggest barrier. You can run a survey, but analyzing the results is time-consuming. With the wrong solution, it can take hours.
You have limited time. Time is often the biggest barrier. You can run a survey, but analyzing the results is time-consuming. With the wrong solution, it can take hours.
Content
Another significant barrier is that many learning and development teams lack the analytic skills necessary to work with the data available. They can get the data out and build the reports, but this doesn’t give them any insight into the effectiveness of the learning or training.
Another significant barrier is that many learning and development teams lack the analytic skills necessary to work with the data available. They can get the data out and build the reports, but this doesn’t give them any insight into the effectiveness of the learning or training.
Content
So how do you overcome these barriers, and successfully implement a data-driven approach?
So how do you overcome these barriers, and successfully implement a data-driven approach?
Content
Here are 5 steps:
Here are 5 steps:
Content
1. Embrace a data-driven mindset.
1. Embrace a data-driven mindset.
Content
Make analytics part of the fabric of daily operations. Leaders should be focusing on reactions and outcomes, and always asking for the data that can prove these outcomes. Learning and development teams need to see data as a central component to solving problems and identifying opportunities.
Make analytics part of the fabric of daily operations. Leaders should be focusing on reactions and outcomes, and always asking for the data that can prove these outcomes. Learning and development teams need to see data as a central component to solving problems and identifying opportunities.
Content
2. Provide access to the right tools.
2. Provide access to the right tools.
Content
The right tools means learning solutions with robust reporting and analytics capabilities. This could be an LMS that has the right reporting capabilities, or one without reporting capabilities but with the option of integrating a solution.
The right tools means learning solutions with robust reporting and analytics capabilities. This could be an LMS that has the right reporting capabilities, or one without reporting capabilities but with the option of integrating a solution.
Content
3. Establish shared goals.
3. Establish shared goals.
Content
Shared goals need to be aligned from the top to the bottom. Everybody in the department, from the CLO to the instructional designer, should share a common goal. Align their goals and motivate them with data.
Shared goals need to be aligned from the top to the bottom. Everybody in the department, from the CLO to the instructional designer, should share a common goal. Align their goals and motivate them with data.
Content
4. Offer continuous training and coaching.
4. Offer continuous training and coaching.
Content
On average, 50% of L&D organizations lack the analytic skills necessary to use the data available, so it is crucial they’re given the right support to get the most out of their data. If you follow steps 1 through 3, you have users motivated, you have the software, and you’re asking the right questions—now you’ve got to push them and coach them. Figure out how they can work better, help them ask the right questions, and make sure they have the motivation and support they need to dig deep!
On average, 50% of L&D organizations lack the analytic skills necessary to use the data available, so it is crucial they’re given the right support to get the most out of their data. If you follow steps 1 through 3, you have users motivated, you have the software, and you’re asking the right questions—now you’ve got to push them and coach them. Figure out how they can work better, help them ask the right questions, and make sure they have the motivation and support they need to dig deep!
Content
5. Make data-driven decisions!
5. Make data-driven decisions!
Content
Now you can begin your data-driven strategy: dig for gold! Start tracking the right metrics and gain actionable insights from that information.
Now you can begin your data-driven strategy: dig for gold! Start tracking the right metrics and gain actionable insights from that information.