Learning, AI and Technology Consultant | AI in L&D | Upskilling, Digital Education and EdTech | Harvard M.Ed.
AI — or any piece of tech — is not a learning strategy. In fact, it's probably not even the singular solution for your regular L&D woes, like cost or engagement. A learning strategy should align with the business strategy: ➡️ If the business aims to improve client retention, then your learning strategy could focus on improving the quality of client conversations. ➡️ If the business seeks greater efficiency, then you might tighten up your onboarding, reuse what you already have, or enable better point-of-need support, among other things. ➡️ If the business wants to drive innovation, then you may create programmes and spaces for people to come and create together. Technology can be a powerful tool to help achieve any of these and more, but it can't be the strategy itself. An LMS with a learning library is not a career development strategy. VR is not an innovation strategy. AI is not a cost savings strategy. There’s a LOT of different AI-powered tech and promises out there and it's all too easy to get overwhelmed. However, the classic advice still holds: start with what the business wants to achieve, consider how L&D can contribute, and only then consider if and how AI can help. #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Learning #Technology #HR
So true! In your experience, how come people sometimes “forget” to align the learning strategy with the business strategy? What else could they possibly be focused on?
It genuinely blows my mind the amount of L&D teams that don't have a real strategy - and don't seem to even know what the business strategy is! Thank you for this reminder, Egle! 🙌
Absolutely agree, Egle Vinauskaite. I think a lot of us in L & D (I'm the first to raise my hand here!) get caught up in the newest and shiniest "thing" hitting our space. Technology enables strategy, not the other way around. Thanks for the reminder here!
Well said and I totally agree. Business goals comes first. But it would also be really good to have a tech and AI strategy aligned with the Learning Strategy and my experience is that this is often lacking. What is your experience of this?
Thanks for the great reminder Egle Vinauskaite I don't even want to think about the number of times I've had this discussion 🙈 😅
Strategy first tech second every time, Egle Vinauskaite
I'd argue that it is more about aligning the education strategy with the business strategy and goals. An education strategy that can foster the creation of effective education environments where the learning process (that innate process belonging to the individual) can happen. It's an illusion to think that someone can control someone else's learning. They can control the information and knowledge but not the learning; hence, the individual owns a learning strategy and may choose to align it with the business goals. The individual’s decision is based on their needs, wishes, and self-awareness. The company department responsible for personnel development will own an education strategy. Aligning strategies remains the slightest problem as long as we continue to mix learning with education and use them as synonyms.
Clearly and obviously all true, the only caveat is that one should look long term with consideration for flexibility and agility in this new age. So, somewhat ahead of tactical interventions to solve imediate woes : aspirations and towards a more generalised north star as far as ed tech is concerned.
All technology use require human input in application: application being a continuum depending on the technology, requiring human critical thinking, analytical and problem solving skills to apply ‘appropriately’ to get the required outcome/acceptable outcome’
Learning, AI and Technology Consultant | AI in L&D | Upskilling, Digital Education and EdTech | Harvard M.Ed.
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