Why you need multi-program infrastructure to support scalable learning
Every learning initiative has to start somewhere. Most start with one course. Few start with a plan to incorporate more than one course. Even less see the big picture and long-term planning implications of launching and maintaining multi-program organizations. In order to success without living in reactionary mode all the time, organizations need to consider multi-program infrastructure beyond what learning management system they’ll use.
In the beginning, one course is manageable. Maybe even two. But when you start to get into managing several programs at once, even if you’re a large training organization, it can start to wear on your infrastructure. Ensuring that infrastructure is stable and has the foundations for success is key to long-term training initiative success. Trying to add more or even remove some of the programs can create chaos. And nobody likes it when things to turn chaos. The good news is there are several practices you can implement to prevent this from happening. It all begins with developing and implementing a system that can support as many programs as you need. It all begins with understanding what kind of learning ecosystem you’re building in the first place and what you need now and in the future.
What is multi-program infrastructure?
Let’s start by defining multi-program infrastructure. At its core, multi-program infrastructure is a structured backend support system that considers the needs, wants and desires or the various departments, timelines, delivery methods, outcomes and responsibilities related to delivering training. This isn’t just about the tech though. Creating a multi-program infrastructure starts with asking the right questions. The tech doesn’t come into play until much later.
Sure, it involves the learning management system or systems, but more importantly, a multi-program infrastructure is built on the foundations of administration, reporting, communication, workflows, automation, documentation, customer service, stakeholder agreement and much more.
This interdisciplinary approach to developing and delivering training is why Deveaux Learning Solutions exists. We specialize in seeing the big picture when it comes to creating learning experiences. And we never just create a course. Everything we do is carefully considered in terms of the whole organization so learning can happen and nobody pulls their hair out in the process.
The systems of missing multi-program infrastructure
A common mistake many organizations make is assuming the infrastructure they currently have is enough to support training delivery. Multi-program infrastructure doesn’t live on top of or separate from your existing infrastructure. It exists with it. It becomes part of it. You’ll know you need to reconsider how you’re creating, delivering and measuring training when your team is spending more time trying to support the learning than the actual learning takes to happen. For example, I once worked with a client who told me their team does all of their reporting manually. Because they have scattered systems for everything in their organization, they had to pull multiple reports from multiple locations and analyze them separately. In our modern technology age, there is no reason for any human to be manually pulling completion reports related to training, much less creating new reports from scratch to amalgamate the separate information for stakeholders. But it happens. A lot.
Common issues related to infrastructure
Other common issues organizations face when their infrastructure isn’t properly set up to support learning includes:
- lost learners or lack of engagement
- inconsistent completion rates
- new courses feel hard to launch
- impractical applications of learning
- trying to answer questions as they arise instead of anticipating issues ahead of time
These are just a few of the issues I see with clients when I work with them to create multi-program infrastructures to support their multiple programs and offers. But the issues don’t end there. When we look at lost learners, we may be apt to blame the technology. It’s a common complaint: the system doesn’t work. More often than not though, organizations accept the workflows presented to them and try to make it work for them instead of thinking of a better way to do things. Acceptance is a kin to apathy. You don’t have to take what you’re given. You can work to create something else. Deveaux Learning Solutions specializes in assessing these issues and offering alternatives that require less work that incorporate people, processes, programs and platforms.
Shifting to a multi-program infrastructure
Creating new infrastructure can sound daunting, but that’s because you’re used to building as you go. When you take time to consider the implications of decisions now and in the future, it becomes easier to put systems, processes and practices in place that serve your organization, your leaners, your stakeholders and your teams. That’s The DLS Method™: consider people, processes, programs and platforms. Using an interdisciplinary approach, no stone is left unturned and no surprises pop up later because the four corners of your organization have been considered. But it all starts with asking the right questions and understanding how the answers to those questions impact the rest of the systems.
Question to help bridge the gap to multi-program infrastructure
Instead of taking a content-first approach with one-off courses, consider the people involved. Who does what and when? How long does that take? What’s not working? What is working? Consider the processes. Why do you do things that way? Have you tried other things? What hasn’t been questioned about the way things are done? Think about the programs. How does each program impact or influence the other? What are the short and long-term plans for programming? What are you not doing now but would like to be able to do with learning initiatives later? And consider the platforms. This isn’t just about learning management systems but customer relation software, sales software, reporting, employee engagement and more.
In order to shift into a multi-program infrastructure, you need to be prepared to make changes across the board. These changes don’t just impact and improve learning initiatives; they impact and improve business operations. Learning experts don’t focus on how the roll out of a program can impact an organization internally but it’s a vital piece of the success puzzle. Nothing happens in a silo. Everything impacts everything else. And Deveaux Learning Solutions ensures that the infrastructure is built up to support multi-program initiatives from the top-down.
Creating legacy with multi-program infrastructure
The good news is that while it may take some time to consider the implications and implementation of a multi-program infrastructure system, it’s worth it. It’s worth it because you only have to do it once. Because The DLS Method™ approaches learning initiatives from a holistic perspective, we’re able to incorporate future asks now and plan for those changes in the people, processes, programs and platforms we work with.
What’s more, when you make the investment to create a multi-program infrastructure and build a learning ecosystem that functions properly, you’ll see the benefits across the entire organization. Your staff won’t be taping reports together anymore. Your facilitators and instructors will know how to find information on new programs. Stakeholders will have the information they need to keep investing. Your platforms won’t become stale and your dollars will stretch because you’re implementing systems that just make sense. You can finally put the duct tape away.
