Learning Management Systems are often initially implemented as centrally administered tools within an organisation. Although a number of benefits can be realised from this approach, where functionality allows, additional benefits can be leveraged by rolling out direct access to the system to wider groups of stakeholders including, Training Providers, Trainers, Managers and Staff, both within the organisation and externally.

Self-service can bring significant cultural and procedural change within organisations. Rolling out self-service access to a Learning Management System can help central learning and development functions to reduce the time they spend on administration, freeing up time for advisory and strategic work. Additional benefits of rolling out self-service access include:

• Development of more efficient / optimal processes.
• Making Training Providers accountable for their own activities and schedules along with reviewing bookings to ensure activities are run with the required numbers will increase the cost efficiency of training.
• Allowing Trainers access to the system to create their own attendance lists, mark attendance and record performance following training will increase the accuracy of data and the increase the speed and availability of information to the organisation.
• Managers will take more responsibility for their staff’s learning and development and ensure activities undertaken are in line with the requirements of their post and individual development needs.
• Allowing staff to book directly on training activities will empower them to manage their own learning and development; whilst manager approval processes will ensure that development is appropriate.
• Self-service processes will help to initiate a learning culture within the organisation.
• By redefining processes within the Learning and Development function valuable administration time can be saved and utilised for more value adding activities.

The implementation of self-service across an organisation, and the realisation of benefits, will of course take time. Our work with organisations is usually in the following areas:

• Realignment of line-management and learning and development team processes
• Development and communication of new roles and responsibilities
• Communication programmes to explain the vision, process and benefits to managers and staff
• Alignment of systems so that busy managers and staff have a joined-up, low or zero training experience of their self service systems
• Developing and driving business cases and project plans, to ensure the vision is delivered.

By helping organisations to roll out self-service we can help to change the culture to one of a learning organisation, where there are the knock on effects of, increased productivity and reduced sickness and staff turnover.

For more information on how to roll out self service in your organisation then please contact us.