In this enlightening episode of the Digital Adoption Show, host Tamanna Chanana, Senior Growth Marketing Manager at Whatfix, delves into the transformative role of Learning and Development (L&D) in today's fast-paced workplace. This episode is a part of L&D Upskill mini-series, aimed at uncovering innovative strategies and insights for driving both employee and organizational development.

Our special guests, Andrew Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer of Llarn Learning Services, and Fran Harrison, a Learning Technology Strategist at QA Ltd, join us to share their vast experiences and forward-thinking approaches to learning in the workplace. With over 25 years in the L&D field, Andrew is a pioneer in enhancing workplace learning quality through effective people and team management, learning strategy, and design. Fran brings a diverse background in learning technology, diversity, inclusion, project management, and leadership development, offering a unique perspective on facilitating lifelong learning.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Real-Time Learning Opportunities: The conversation kicks off with a discussion on identifying real-time learning opportunities within employees' daily tasks. Fran emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying problems and needs before devising learning solutions, suggesting a consultative approach to L&D. Andrew highlights the necessity of integrating learning with business processes, moving beyond alignment to ensure learning is embedded within the organizational fabric.
2. Transformative L&D Approaches: Both guests share their journeys in the L&D space, shedding light on the evolution of learning technologies and the shift towards a performance-oriented L&D model. Andrew critiques traditional L&D methodologies, advocating for a focus on performance enhancement and leveraging technology to improve learning outcomes. Fran discusses her transition from educational settings to the corporate sector, emphasizing the need for solving real-world problems through learning.
3. Addressing Skill Gaps: The discussion transitions to strategies for identifying and addressing skill gaps within organizations. Andrew introduces the concept of the three A's (Awareness, Acquisition, Application) as a framework for determining learning needs, emphasizing the importance of application and the opportunity for employees to practice skills in a safe environment. Fran supports this view, advocating for "just enough" and "just in time" learning to ensure relevance and retention.
4. Metrics and KPIs for Evaluating L&D: The conversation concludes with insights into the most valuable metrics and KPIs for evaluating the effectiveness of learning in the flow of work. Both guests agree on the importance of diverse metrics that go beyond traditional learning data to include organizational performance, team dynamics, and individual improvement. Andrew introduces a comprehensive data collection model focusing on inputs, outputs, outcomes, and impacts to measure learning effectiveness more holically.

Conclusion:

This episode of the Digital Adoption Show offers profound insights into the critical role of L&D in enhancing workplace productivity and innovation. Through engaging discussions with leading L&D experts, listeners gain access to practical strategies, real-life examples, and innovative approaches to fostering a culture of continuous learning and development. As the landscape of digital adoption and organizational growth evolves, this episode stands as a testament to the power of strategic learning in driving success.

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