LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

Introduction

Learning and development strategies are focus to ensure that people in the organization acquire and develop the know ledge, skills and competencies they need to carry out their work effectively and advance their careers to their own benefit and the benefit of the organization.

Organizations need people with high and appropriate knowledge, skills and abilities. Steps taken to meet this need are business-led in the sense that they are based on an understanding of the strategic imperatives of the business and support the achievement of its goals. But organizations also need to take account of the personal needs of those they employ for development and growth. This is good in itself but it means that the organization will be a more fulfilling and therefore attractive place in which to work.

 ‘Learning and development is the process of acquiring and developing knowledge, skills, capabilities, behaviors and attitudes through learning or developmental experiences. It is concerned with ensuring that the organization has the knowledgeable, skilled, engaged and committed workforce it needs’.

(Armstrong; 2009)

E-learning

‘The delivery and administration of learning opportunities and support via computer, networked and web-based technology to help individual performance and development’.

(Pollard and Hillage 2001)

What is E-Learning?

E-Learning has many interpretations but in short it stands for learning by electronic means. This means learning not directly from lecture notes, books or face-to-face from teacher but through electronic means.  Common forms are computer-based training and web based lessons or on-line lessons. With the advent of advanced technology, lessons may be taken anytime anywhere. These lessons can be made more interesting using multimedia i.e. combination of text, graphics, sound and animation. Lessons can be delivered to the learner via various means e.g. PC, PDA, mobile phone and TV.

E learning can be further categorized into formal lessons, which are structured, and informal means e.g. discussions, e-mail, e-conference etc. The much talked about life-long learning through E-Learning includes both types of learning to help solve performance problems. In a mobile operational environment the role of e-learning is highly essential and on the other hand e-learning  is effected to the administration cost of an organization  too.

References

Harrison, R (2009) Learning and Development, 5th edn, London, CIPD Walton, J (1999) Strategic Human Resource Development, Harlow, FT Prentice Hall

CA Pollard, E and Hillage, J (2001) Explaining e-Learning, Report No 376, Institute for Employment Studies,

Armstrong’s handbook of human resource management practice / Michael Armstrong. -- Eleventh ed. (2009)

Armstrong’s handbook of human resource management practice / Michael Armstrong. – 13^th  ed. (2013)