Ashford University Workplace Digital Age & The Proposed Learning Software Memorandum

Write a 3-4 page internal memo that will be presented to the company leadership team as they make the decision whether or not the proposed software supports the company goal of increasing learning in the flow of work.

Today, the workforce has many learning needs that must be responded to without pre-planning, and adjustment times are quick. In the early tenure of an employee, or when the work task is new, the employee will need an ecosystem of learning strategies and products to facilitate learning in the flow of work. The ecosystem could include micro learning, on the job practice, learner developed videos, coaching, or other modalities. Learning in the flow of work is the process of using different activities throughout the workday to learn new skills to respond to task demands (Bersin, 2018).

There are thousands of technology-based learning platforms and vast amounts of content in many different formats. One way in which organizations can be successful in selecting the effective learning processes is by using different theories of learning and applying critical success factors (CSFs) when selecting mechanisms of learning. Theories of adult learning include: andragogy, which exploits a learner’s past experiences (Arghode, 2017); transformational learning, which makes connections between ideas and concepts (Yukawa, 2015), and experiential learning that connects meaning to reality (Human Resource Management International Digest, <em”>2016).

Critical success factors can be used to determine best practices for the selection of learning platforms. CSFs provide facilitators to overcome internal organizational political and social barriers to learning (Bizcommunity.com, 2019).

CSFs that focus on process:

Align to goals and design for impact.

Work from a foundation of solid methodology.

Monitor and ask for feedback from the start.

Integrate learning into the flow of work and ensure application. Work cleverly within budget and resource considerations.

CSFs that can overcome social and political barriers:

Have internal champions.

Choose the right partners.

Capture interest and attention. Make it a successful brand exercise.