Knowledge + Learning = Performance

KLP stands for Knowledge + Learning = Performance. Why this equation? Well, after nearly 20 years of experience in the workplace learning and performance improvement field, I've seen many evolutions take place. There’s been the shift from predominantly classroom training to the wide-spread use of elearning solutions. There’s been a shift from long multi-day (and even multi-week) courses to short modularized courses. There’s been a shift from big curriculums that are defined and controlled by the employee’s organization to personalized instruction customized to each individual’s needs. These are but a few of the biggest trends I’ve seen and I’m sure there are more to come.

One thing that many in the field agree upon is that the focus really needs to be on the performance side of the equation (looking at both individual performance and organizational performance or business results). However, some will argue that learning is what gets you there. Some say it's knowledge. I, and perhaps you as well, think it takes both. I believe we need to bring together the multiple disciplines of organizational learning, instructional design, knowledge management, and others in order to maximize performance—for the sake of individuals as well as organizations.

Through this blog, I will explore the areas of knowledge and learning and how they help to maximize performance. I’ll also share ways that we can utilize technology to better enable performance. I’ll also discuss management considerations—because without both project management and change management, even the best designed performance improvement solution runs the risk of failure.

So please join me on this journey and perhaps together we can share our own knowledge and learning to improve the performance of individuals and organizations!

- Robin

Copyright Robin Donnan 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Performance Associates, Inc.

In my work facilitating web conferences and leading geographically-dispersed teams, I’ve found it really helps to share photos to bring a human element to the electronic medium. So for those of you who haven’t met me in person, this is me:

And a little more about my background…

I’ve been working in the workplace learning and performance improvement field since 1988 when I earned my Master’s degree in Instructional Technology from Rochester Institute of Technology. During the first eight years of my career, I held corporate training positions with Accenture, Waste Management, and Arthur Andersen. Then in 1995, I started my own company, Performance Associates, where we design and develop creative technology, self paced, and classroom delivered performance solutions. I’ve had the pleasure of working on numerous workplace learning and performance improvement projects with many great clients over the years. Depending on the performance need, our custom solutions may include classroom training, e-learning courseware, simulations, games, help systems, job aids and/or reference manuals, web sites, synchronous or asynchronous web conferencing, or other solutions. Bottom line, I really love the work I do! The variety of content, clients, and solutions always keeps things interesting, and I truly enjoy the creative side of designing and developing effective learning solutions.

Now fast forward to December 2006… I’ve started pursuing a doctorate in Learning Management from Walden University. I selected Walden University because of the program offerings, the school’s accreditation, and the ability to complete the program online (with just 20 days of face-to-face time via residencies). I know it’s going to be a long road (I’m estimating it will take approximately 4 years), but I’m happy to be on my way. Since I was 19, I’ve always planned on getting my PhD once I was in my 40s; so it’s very fulfilling to be realizing one of my lifelong goals. My practical goal is to use the additional credentials as a way to break into presenting, publishing, and adjunct teaching. My more esoteric goal is to apply my current knowledge of instructional design and performance improvement, add to it from the relatively new field of knowledge management, and then marry the two together to help improve individual and organizational effectiveness—particularly for small to mid-sized businesses (which represent the majority of businesses in the world, plus whom I believe are where the true source of innovation and future economic sustainability is likely to come in the future). Whew! That’s quite a mouthful, isn’t it? ;-)

If you’d like to read my detailed credentials, please check out my profile on LinkedIn. (And if you haven’t tried LinkedIn yet, I highly recommend it! It’s an excellent networking tool.)

- Robin

Copyright Robin Donnan 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Performance Associates, Inc.