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Learning and

development

hope or reality

Productivity in most sectors has been stagnant for a

decade and, in all sectors, falls short of expectations.

In the last two decades, we have • Stress, mental illness, and short- important.” Ask stakeholders
seen an explosion in the range, term absenteeism are at record the same question and you will
power, and accessibility of tools to levels; elicit a similar response. Ask, the
help us to communicate and learn. • The quality of people senior finance managers the same
Within seconds, we are able to management is generally poor question and responses will be
connect with an expert on virtually and a primary trigger for attrition, far more guarded. Even though
anything, anywhere in the world. grievances, and low employee we now know that investment in
We can search for and find articles, engagement; Employee Engagement can produce
white papers, and instruction sheets • bSocial intercourse is demonstrable financial returns,
on how to do almost anything characterised by disrespect, the same is not yet believed about
from how to tie a bow tie, to aggression, and curtness. investment in wider learning and
how to speak another language, So, what is going wrong? development.
and even how to make a bomb. Across the board, we are not When prioritization of limited
In addition to what is generally investing in effective development. funds is needed, senior
available, most large organizations Much of our current learning and management pays more attention
also complement this with development activity is driven by to initiatives with demonstrable
internal Learning Management populism, cost, and HR’s passion financial return, and with the
Systems, crammed with additional for simplification. potential for short term results –
materials, many focused on each Hopefully you work in an urgency beats importance.
organization’s unique needs. organization that is an exception. This is not to say that many of
So, surely, we must be the most If you do, that could well be the tools we now have are not
skilled, the happiest, and the most exceptional! But many face valuable. Quite the contrary.
relaxed generation of workers the harsh reality that learning Many learning needs require access
ever … shouldn’t we? We have, and development needs may to information – knowledge. And,
“How to do anything” right at our be clear, but addressing them contemporary tools meet that need
fingertips. But, wait, the evidence may not be prioritized. Ask exceedingly well. But, even more
does not support this, does it? any executive if they believe in require development of skill …
• Productivity in most sectors learning and development and you and, that takes time, practice, and
has been stagnant for a decade will almost certainly receive an refinement. As the cliché goes,
and, in all sectors, falls short of unequivocal and rapid response “You can learn about riding a
expectations; of, “Of course. It is critically bicycle from a video but you can
28 December 2019