Why are Web 2.0 technologies still bleeding edge in corporate training functions?

A recent report of 700 learning professionals conducted by the American Society for Training & Development entitled Transforming Learning with Web 2.0 Technologies found that Web 2.0 technologies is still “bleeding edge” when used within corporate training functions. Only 9% of companies use Web 2.0 technologies in a major way within their learning function.

My last blog - Collaboratories: How can you compete with the most innovative companies in the world? – discussed how the most innovative companies in the world embraced the collaborative learning that is facilitated by the Web 2.0 in their R&D and business processes. However, it appears most are slow to adopt.

Fortunately, the report the future appears brighter than the present. In the same report:

87% of respondents predict in the next three years their companies are more likely to use Web 2.0 technologies than they currently do
77% believe Web 2.0 technologies will improve knowledge sharing to a large or very large extent
95% percent of respondents think that Web 2.0 technology is effective, though the highest marks for it are not very high, indicating that many do not know how to use the technologies and the associated fear of them
But why aren’t the 91% of companies that are not using Web 2.0 technologies in a more prominent manner in the corporate training function, especially when increasing employee productivity must be a key strategic goal for all organizations in this macro economic environment? Moreover, if you look at any recent survey of younger workers in the corporate environment, they all yearn for collaborative, informal learning. They understand and embrace the power of Web 2.0, having used it more than some of us older folks.

Could it be the decision makers tend to be a little older, less Facebook friendly, more passive in decision making in this environment, and thus, clutch to more conventional techniques. We all know what happens with sheep – “sheep get slaughtered1.” I wonder if the initial adoption of emailing had the same type of result.

In this same report, it appears the respondents know in their hearts using Web 2.0 technologies is coming, with nearly seven out of eight respondents saying they will use Web 2.0 more in the near future. It took time for teachers to embrace personal computers in the classroom. They are now resisting smartphones as a powerful learning tool.

Your shareholders should not wait. Your CEO should not wait. The tools are here. They are affordable and easy to implement.

Collaborative learning, cost savings and an environmentally friendly education distribution system our eLearning 2.0 and mLearning platform provides are just some of the benefits of TOPYX®. Our eLearning 2.0 education distribution technologies are paving the way in creating innovative solutions to meet the needs of today’s learner.

For more information, blogs, videos and even test driving TOPYX, please go to www.interactyx.com.


Alfred R. Novas
Chief Executive Officer
Interactyx Limited

al.novas@interactyx.com
www.interactyx.com


Interactyx, the developer of TOPYX®, is at the forefront of developing eLearning and social networking solutions that engage and facilitate knowledge-sharing activities with learners.

[1] Gordon Gekko in Wall Street I (Wall Street II is current being filmed).

Collaboratories: How can you compete with the most innovative companies in the world?

In this week's Business Week magazine, its main article entitled Big Blue's Global Lab discusses how companies such as IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Proctor & Gamble and Eli Lilly are collaborating all over the world with their geographically disbursed offices, universities, governments and even other companies in their R&D efforts. IBM actually calls theirs "collaboratories" - with the potential to set up over 100 worldwide over the coming years. "The world is our lab now," states John E. Kelly III, director of IBM Research.

For organizations of all sizes to stay competitive and innovative in today's global marketplace, employees must have tools and reinforcement to learn and conduct their business in a collaborative way. The good news is that millions - including most of your employee - are familiar with communicating right now and do so on their own time. Social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter have made this type of collaborative communication second nature.

But that is not enough. The attributes of social networking, when combined with the fundamentals and functionality of traditional learning management systems is critical for enterprises of all sizes to adopt and implement as part of their corporate training plans.

By having an eLearning tool that reinforces collaborative behavior when an employees first starts with a firm (onboarding), is reinforced in ongoing eLearning initiatives and becomes part of the corporate fabric allows for collaboratories to work in today's global competitive environment.

Collaborative learning, cost savings and an environmentally friendly education distribution system our eLearning 2.0 and mLearning platform provides are just some of the benefits of TOPYX®. Our eLearning 2.0 education distribution technologies are paving the way in creating innovative solutions to meet the needs of today's learner.

For more information, blogs, videos and even test driving TOPYX, please go to www.interactyx.com.

Alfred R. Novas
Chief Executive Officer
Interactyx Limited

al.novas@interactyx.com
www.interactyx.com

Interactyx, the developer of TOPYX®, is at the forefront of developing eLearning and social networking solutions that engage and facilitate knowledge-sharing activities with learners.