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Electronic learning management systems force HR managers to become involved in an alien specialism - IT. David Moore offers advice on how to form an effective partnership with your IT department
If you are considering installing an online learning management system, it is critical that the IT department is involved right from the start. It “owns” and manages the platform on which the new system will run and the installation will demand of it a major investment of time, budget and effort.
If the IT department is involved as an equal partner in the project, then the long term effectiveness of the programme is more likely. Here are four ways in which the effective union of the IT and HR departments can be developed.
Training Strategy and Business Plan
This sounds obvious, but it is surprising how many organisations overlook this first stage. It is essential that the proposed electronic learning management system will deliver tangible business benefits - a reduction in the overall training budget, for example, or an increase in profits resulting from more effectively trained sales agents.
It is critical that the HR team can prove that the proposed new system is based on sound business requirements because the IT department must have faith that its involvement will not be a waste of time. It will be more inclined to support a project that is likely to be successful, and the best way to ensure this is to have a well thought out business plan.
The training strategy must clearly state what is needed from the system in terms of availability, consistency, content, support and quality. It must also have the full support of the HR director because it will involve a major commitment of time, resources and budget from both departments.
Sufficient budget needs to be put aside to integrate the new programme throughout the organisation. For example, it might require a major investment in new hardware or networks.
Issues to consider include the capacity of the existing IT infrastructure, systems upgrades, the availability of workstations and the HR issues arising from the introduction of an alternative learning method.
Select a suitable person to work with the IT department
