Creating an L&D strategy with the questions-Part 2

Bola Owoade

Jewish Care

Senior Learning and Development Advisor

Creating an L&D strategy with the questions-Part 2

By Bola Owoade

Tags: Evaluation, Performance, ROI

This is a continuation from a previous article which you can read it here.

Dave writes up the first question for them to discuss which is:

What are the most important priorities the organisation wants to achieve this year?

Each group has flipchart and paper. They have 10 minutes to answer the question. After 10 minutes each table presents their answers. There are a few differences and Dave gives them another 10 minutes to discuss and come up with one list. Dave rewrites all the priorities identified as business goals as SMART objectives. Following is an example of the priority we are concentrating on.

The priority

To rebuild our online analytics delivery platform with more current and better technology.

Rewritten as a business goal

Specific: To rebuild our cloud data hosting platform platform with current and better technology.

Measurable: 90 percent of customers can use the platform successfully without problems three months after release.

Achievable: Given the resources we have we can build the platform within the specified time.

Relevant: This goal is relevant to our overall vision as an organisation.

Timebound: To release a version 1.0 on the first day of the final business quarter of the coming business year.

By defining the priority as a business goal, the measurement criteria to determine its success is clear.

Next Dave gives the groups the second question to discuss for ten minutes.

What actions does the organisation need to take to successfully achieve those objectives?

Dave explains that the purpose of this question is to identify the key actions that will be taken to achieve the priorities identified through question
one. In other words what strategy will be the organisation implement to achieve the priorities. Dave tells them he is looking for clear actions or steps.

After ten minutes Dave stops them and just as in question one they align their notes. For the priority discussed previously the LT came up with:

Design prototype and specifications for the new platform.
Decide what technology to use.
Adopt an agile project management framework.
Ensure we have the right staff with the right skills.
Develop and test the platform using the lean methodology.
Release version 1.0 of the platform with minimal bugs.

Next Dave asks them question three:

What capabilities does the organisation need to have to take those actions successfully?

As in the previous two questions he gives them 10 minutes to discuss and write down their answers. He stops them after 10 minutes and allows them to align their answers. These are the aligned answers Dave writes out on flipchart paper: