It isn't easy to predict how business leaders will prioritize new
projects, or how certain budgetary line items receive primacy over
others. When companies have unlimited options for internal investments
with limited funding, ROI may not be the deciding factor in the final
analysis.
When introducing or expanding an e-learning system, one key selling point is the benefit of sound training the technology will provide employees and other learners. Training always promotes benefits, such as increased sales, enhanced productivity and improved product knowledge to name a few. Articulating the benefits of your e-learning project is just the beginning of moving it through the internal approval maze.
Here are some additional points you might raise with the decision-maker while proposing e-learning:
1. What benefits would be realized by having an internal training system with courses that could be developed and managed by non-technical personnel?
2. What competitive advantage would be realized if we could cut our development time for new products and/or services training in half?
3. How much impact would be felt if we could reduce our training travel budget by 75% (consider the expense of airfare, hotel, car, meals, time... the list goes on!)?
Of course, you'll want to develop situations that relate directly to your business and its specific pain points that an e-learning system can cure.
Communicating Your Ideas
When promoting the value of the project, here are some things to keep in mind:
1. Who are the stakeholders, and how will the transition impact them?
2. How will the new e-learning initiatives create value and support company objectives?
How will e-learning benefit your bottom line? Tally up the cost of the project and calculate savings in classroom time, travel and related expenses. Place a value on improved performance after training and divide the benefits by the costs. This should reinforce your proposal and garner the attention of the decision-making team.
Getting Final Approval
For your project to be approved, you'll need a consensus on the need for improvement to your training requirements, plus an agreement that your proposed solution is the answer. With a little help from your e-learning consultant, you can prepare a sample online training course and demonstrate the look, feel and content of the training your learners will experience.
Armed with an illustration of the proposed e-learning course, the anticipated organizational impact and several quantifiable points, you'll achieve success in selling your e-learning initiative internally!
When introducing or expanding an e-learning system, one key selling point is the benefit of sound training the technology will provide employees and other learners. Training always promotes benefits, such as increased sales, enhanced productivity and improved product knowledge to name a few. Articulating the benefits of your e-learning project is just the beginning of moving it through the internal approval maze.
Here are some additional points you might raise with the decision-maker while proposing e-learning:
1. What benefits would be realized by having an internal training system with courses that could be developed and managed by non-technical personnel?
2. What competitive advantage would be realized if we could cut our development time for new products and/or services training in half?
3. How much impact would be felt if we could reduce our training travel budget by 75% (consider the expense of airfare, hotel, car, meals, time... the list goes on!)?
Of course, you'll want to develop situations that relate directly to your business and its specific pain points that an e-learning system can cure.
Communicating Your Ideas
When promoting the value of the project, here are some things to keep in mind:
1. Who are the stakeholders, and how will the transition impact them?
2. How will the new e-learning initiatives create value and support company objectives?
How will e-learning benefit your bottom line? Tally up the cost of the project and calculate savings in classroom time, travel and related expenses. Place a value on improved performance after training and divide the benefits by the costs. This should reinforce your proposal and garner the attention of the decision-making team.
Getting Final Approval
For your project to be approved, you'll need a consensus on the need for improvement to your training requirements, plus an agreement that your proposed solution is the answer. With a little help from your e-learning consultant, you can prepare a sample online training course and demonstrate the look, feel and content of the training your learners will experience.
Armed with an illustration of the proposed e-learning course, the anticipated organizational impact and several quantifiable points, you'll achieve success in selling your e-learning initiative internally!
