Here is something interesting I saw this week.
Learning and development research company Towards Maturityannounced the launch of its tenth year of Benchmark research, the largest study of L&D effectiveness in Europe. The study is open to L&D leaders across all sectors and it is free to take part. Participants can access the study on the Towards Maturity website at https://tinyurl.com/TMB2013
Organizations are invited to independently review their online learning strategy and directly compare themselves with other organizations.
The Towards Maturity Benchmark Study helps to identify how organizations are using learning technologies in the workplace. Since 2003, the study has analysed data from more than 2,200 organisations and over 3,700 learners.
The confidential 2013 Benchmark Study takes between forty minutes to an hour to complete and enables participants to:
Review their current Learning Strategy in 6 key areas:
Objectives and vision
Impact on business outcomes
Stakeholder engagement
Barriers to overcome
Underpinning technology plans
Implementation tactics
Compare their learning activities against those of hundreds of other organizations in order to help demonstrate improvement or build a business case for change.
Act on the results – the benchmark identifies action areas that will improve results.
New for this year, participants will also get the opportunity to access 4 new practical In-Focus reports: “Mobile Learning”, “Aligning Learning Strategy to Business”, Helping Individuals Practice and Perform” and “Embedding learning into the Workflow” at the end of the study. The main findings of the study will be launched in November 2013 in conjunction with the Learning and Skills Group.
73% of participants who completed the survey in 2012 said that their review provoked discussion or ideas on how to improve the impact of their learning services.
Niall Gavin, Group Head of L&D at First Group said, “First Group has participated in the TM benchmark over the last 5 years and the continual review process helps us to challenge our thinking and track our progress both internally and against our peers. The Towards Maturity Model has provided us with a practical framework on which to base our Learning and Development strategy, helping us to focus on supporting the strategic priorities of our business. I welcome the introduction of the new Alignment and Engagement Indices in the 2013 Study which will help us to strengthen our relationships with important business stakeholders.”
Laura Overton, Managing Director of Towards Maturity said, “Today’s L&D departments are under pressure to transform the way that they support learning and performance at work but have little time to stop and reflect on how they are going to achieve this. The Towards Maturity Benchmark provides the opportunity to fast track their way to success. The independent evidence it provides, of both progress and opportunities to improve, is essential for any learning leader looking to be at the top of their game.”
The Towards Maturity 2013 Benchmark Study is free to participants thanks to the Towards Maturity Ambassador Program which is made up of 21 leading learning organisations. They work together as Ambassadors for change, identifying and improving good practice, raising awareness and driving the whole learning industry forward.
Participants can access the study on the Towards Maturity website at https://tinyurl.com/TMB2013.
Previous Towards Maturity Benchmark Studies can be downloaded at www.towardsmaturity.org/benchmark.
