A ‘team development platform’ (TDP) integrates performance management with a traditional learning management system (LMS) and uses a dynamic ‘learning objects’ approach to training.
The result is technology that adds important dimensions to staff development.
The traditional LMS is typically a hosted service which offers online courses and can set specific courses for the attention of individual staff.
It will include record keeping, groups or line manager reporting cascades, GDPR archiving. The system will support various course formats (including SCORM) and individualisation via course ‘allocation’ (sometimes called learning paths). The system will integrate with HR systems via SSO, scheduled datafeeds and/or APIs and manage communication processes.
The main problem is that they are not built to serve line managers.
Courses are typically ‘compiled’ using an authoring tool and are uploaded centrally to the LMS. It is hard for a line manager to suggest a course because they don’t know what is in a course. A given course typically has to serve all delegates irrespective of their needs or expertise. The courses become out of date, and, because they are usually in a ‘read and test’ format, they contain minimal or no third-party interactivity.
Traditional online courses do not integrate well with all the other techniques managers employ to coach or train staff on a daily basis. For example, workshop training (e.g. toolbox talks) is often seen as a separate system; Marked assignments, SMART objectives and action setting, coaching, and sign-offs, are not easily integrated with traditional LMS courses.
Allocating courses to individual staff (learning paths) can be cumbersome and simplistic. This means that courses are not adapted to delegate needs and allocations are generally made centrally by a training department.
As a result, courses are often seen as “not that relevant” and managers are rarely involved (either with allocation or support).
A Team Development Platform is built to support the line manager. It allows any training to be included as a ‘learning object’. Any series of objects can be pulled together to create a learning experience.
Anything can be used as a learning object and added either as part of a learning sequence (thus creating multi-format formal courses) or allocated to users subject to identified needs.
And objects can be used dynamically.
For most organisations, the manager is already the most important person in staff training through their coaching and support roles. Give them the tools, and managers can do even more to support individual staff development.
They can undertake formal or informal audits and then pin suggestions (or requirements) to staff Pinboards, chase completions, set objectives, request training on behalf of staff and even add new content.
The most important person in any individual’s work life is normally their line manager. Line managers know what is needed; they can offer continuous support; and they are probably the most important work based motivator for any individual.
The main benefit of a TDP approach is that learning becomes more relevant, more interesting and more commonplace. But there are other advantages such as:
SkillGate offers a LMS/TDP.
We integrate performance management tools and learning object authoring and allocation tools with our traditional LMS Academy10.
We also provide thousands of prepared learning objects through our Infinity Library, SmartProgramme and SkillsAudit tools.
Perform and Check-ins allow managers to appraise, set objectives and actions, keep performance notes and set training requests.
Pinboard allows managers to allocate learning objects to their staff.
The SmartAuthor tool allows your SMEs, or managers, to create new learning objects in minutes.
TDP Reports (TDPR) provide managers with quick access to the development activity of their team. TDPR shows managers if they are overdue on check-in meetings, which actions need review, and if their team members have completed mandatory training and which test answers they got wrong.
We teach line managers how to use the development resources available. Our SmartCafé service highlights courses and/or objects that their staff could use and explains how they might help.
And finally, using our Objectives and Key Results (OKR) reporting system companies can align all these different learning activities to their corporate objectives and measure achievement and return. Companies can become true ‘learning organisations’.
Of course, we also offer specialist support. The full list of SkillGate’s Human Touch services is available here.
Other reasons to work with us:
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