Whilst most investments result from quantifying tangible deliverables there are some decisions that require an act of faith. (Maybe with the advance of technology the time has come to reappraise the process of investment decisions, by placing greater emphasis on values and behaviours?).

Dealing with the unknown is one of those occasions.

If elearning is an alien concept to you then clearly implementing elearning will represent such an act of faith. Remember though that whilst moving into the unknown can be risky the entrepreneur recognises that the prize is leadership and if virtuous the reward is excellence. Dealing with the unknown is best achieved with comradeship and this to coin an expression requires the Investment in People.

Whilst the inaugural investment in people decision is the elearning system and whilst an elearning specification can be quantified, and compared with other elearning solutions, the assessment of potential both of the elearning system, and the capability of its administrators and its coaches is another matter.

The secondary investment in people decision lays in the resource needed for elearning programme design and content development particularly in the area of customised elearning programmes but without this the potential of the elearning system and with it human learning and organisation development can never be fully realised.

i.e., there is a tendency to assume that elearning technology will solve all problems, it won't.

In addition elearning is a new experience, still in the process of evolution and therefore requires an investment in new management and administrative skills and attitudes, without which the planning, organisation and implementation of elearning and the attendant e-collaboration involved will be jeopardised

i.e. elearning is not a box that can be bought, plugged in, switched on and left alone

Buying an elearning solution requires strong internal ownership, and it requires a team of people tasked specially with building their skills in this area - a "learning about elearning" team.

We believe in working actively to make our clients self-sufficient and we would be delighted to help you implement your customised copy of the HRD Online training management and elearning system.