Successful custom eLearning development is like a table. The table legs that a learning project "stands on" is an intimate understanding of your audience, client requirements, needs analysis, and business drivers.
1. Effective Project Management
The entire project then rests on the table surface, which is effective Project Management. This blends both the foundational "table stakes" and the learning content into a functioning and effective learning solution.
Project Management is the visible layer that holds all the foundational aspects together, the outputs of the needs analysis, client requirements, the business drivers etc., as well as provides the basis for the learning content to be built upon. Effective Project Management is similar to how a table surface holds the legs together as well as provide a surface for the learning pieces to be held on. It’s seen and experienced by both the clients and the project team.
Like a table surface, good Project Management is seamless and not over engineered. Overly thick layers of bureaucracy and process hinder a project and are not necessary for the learning program to be effective. On the other side, Project Management that is too thin will lead to disarray, confusion, and frustration.
2. Project Management Structure
Learning solutions can rest on top of the table surface, through an effective Project Management structure. The larger and more complex the learning solution, the thicker the table surface needs to be to support all the facets and people involved in the program.
Additionally, various components of the training program may hang off the table and the Project Management expertise and clear expectations help ensure nothing slips off. While not the show piece of a learning program, good Project Management ensures the learning solution gets built.
Without proper grounding in the business needs, and without cohesive and clear Project Management expertise, the resulting eLearning that is layered on top will simply fall apart.