In working with clients on numerous workplace learning and performance improvement projects over the years, I’ve carefully tracked work hours and made observations about the relative work effort involved with the different training delivery methods most often utilized. This has helped in being able to answer that most common of client questions, “Well, how much will it be or how long will it take if we use approach X versus Y?”
What I’ve developed to help answer this question is two-fold: a comparison of the pros and cons of the most common delivery methods and then a diagram that places those options on a continuum from least effort/least cost to most effort/most cost.
First, to look at the pros and cons of the different delivery options:
1. Classroom
Pros:
- Can be changed “on the fly” (i.e., the facilitator can improvise and make adjustments immediately before or even during the session in order to customize the training to meet the audience’s needs)
- Materials are easily updated
- Excellent for practicing “soft skills” such as listening, interviewing, etc. where non-verbal skills also need to be practiced and evaluated; this is also desirable when role plays or other one-on-one activities with other students and/or coaching from the facilitator is needed
Cons:
- Requires coordination and payment for instructors and space
- May require travel for facilitators and/or participants
- Does not address recurring training needs for new hires, refresher, etc.
2. Synchronous web conference
Pros:
- Easy to build and deliver (especially if content expert will also be facilitating the sessions)
- Updates can be made prior to session
- No travel required
- Some interactivity can be added
Cons:
- Requires instructors skilled in facilitating web conference sessions
- Requires coordination of instructors and session times
- Requires web conferencing capabilities
- While an option, recording a live synchronous web conference typically is not an ideal way to handle recurring training needs
3. Asynchronous / recorded session
Pros:
- Very quick to develop
- Can be completed on-demand
Cons:
- Passive learner experience (participants are merely watching and listening)
4. Interactive text and graphics elearning (from moderate to robust)
Pros:
- Can be completed on-demand
- Active learner experience through use of multiple choice, drag and drop, text entry
- Excellent for ensuring cognitive understanding of concepts and theories
Cons:
- Updates typically require some programming skill or an XML editor
5. Interactive multimedia programs
Pros:
- Can be completed on-demand
- Very active
- Able to participate in realistic job simulations / games
- Very sophisticated level of graphics and use of multimedia
Cons:
- Much more expensive and time consuming to develop
Now, when we place these main delivery options on a relative continuum from easiest to hardest we get something that looks like this:
In looking at this continuum, it’s important to remember that we’re looking at typical effort and cost per hour of training developed. For example, a 1 hour robust interactive text and graphics elearning program could require as much effort and budget as a 4 hour series of asynchronous recorded sessions. While what I’ve presented here is not meant as a hard and fast rule, this does provide an excellent way to frame conversations around delivery options and their required effort and costs so as to help clients make informed decisions for their workplace learning and performance improvement solutions.
- Robin
Copyright Robin Donnan 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Performance Associates, Inc.
