So are our staff reluctant learners? Or are they just reluctant to engage with the solutions that L&D teams provide? In this presentation, Laura Overton, MD of the benchmarking organisation Towards Maturity, explores perspectives from 500 L&D professionals and over 2,000 learners to uncover insights that will really make a difference to learner engagement in your business. Data was taken from the New Learning Agenda www.towardsmaturity.org/2013benchmark and the Towards Maturity Learning Landscape www.towardsmaturity.org/learner .This presentation was first delivered at the UK Learning Technology Conference 2014.

1. Engaging Disengaged Learners
Using data from learners in the workplace to challenge
our assumptions
Lauraoverton

2. 44%
of L&D leaders say
their staff are reluctant to
engage with online learning
But do staff agree?
We conduct an annual study with L&D professionals and for some years they have been
complaining! Download the full report at www.towardsmaturity.org/2013benchmark
Lauraoverton

3. Managers
Non Managers
2000+ learners
in the Towards
Maturity Learning
Landscape
Sales
Under 30
Over 50
New in Company (<6 months)
Established in company (>5 years)
So we thought we’d ask the learners themselves – for more information on the Learning
Landscape go to www.towardsmarturity.org/learner
lauraoverton

4. Networks
How do staff
learn what
they need to
do their job?
• 86% working in team collaboration
• 83% general conversations
Managers
• 70% support from line managers
Support
Courses
• 70% google or other search engines
• 64% courses
• 51% self paced e-learning
Clear that staff are actively learning , is the engagement issue more about technology?
lauraoverton

5. 75% of learners are happy to engage
with online learning without prompting
But what about sharing? 95% of L&D staff are looking to improve sharing of good practice
in the organisations but only 22% are achieving this – surely that is down to learner
reluctance to share online?
lauraoverton

6. 84% staff potentially willing to use
technology to share what they know
with others
22% doing it already
Image courtesy of pakorn via freedigitalphoto
Lauraoverton

7. Yet only 18% L&D
professionals believe their
staff have the ability to
connect and share online
Lauraoverton

8. So are our
staff reluctant
learners?
lauraoverton
Or are
they just
reluctant
to engage
with our
solutions?

9. What is stopping staff from
learning on line?
45% Uninspiring content
37% Lack of somewhere
appropriate to study
33% Can’t find what they need
lauraoverton

10. • 3 in 5 L&D professionals
think that their programmes
are relevant
#1 Barrier Uninspiring content
lauraoverton

11. • 40% say their
manager has the
most influence on
how they learn
(Rising to 58% for
under 6 months)
• 7% say L&D influence
them
Lauraoverton

12. Recognition is also important
66% staff say recognition that
they have completed online learning
is important
regardless of role
Lauraoverton

13. Only 17% of L&D
equip managers to
support their staff
Only 23%
recognise
achievements
Lauraoverton

14. #2 Barrier - appropriate place
• 62% already using
mobile phones/tablets to
access resources to help
them do their job
lauraoverton

15. • 15% encourage
users to use their
own devices for
learning
lauraoverton

16. #3 Barrier – can’t find what they need
• ONLY
52%
learners believe
their company
clearly
communicates
with them where
to find it
lauraoverton

17. • 44% L&D
professionals agree
that they have a
communications plan
that engages all
stakeholders
• 18% publicise
success of individuals
• 25% communicate
successes to
management
lauraoverton

18. Engaging learners
There are some things we can control!
Top learning companies following a new type of Learning Agenda that is bringing HR, Individuals
and company needs together. One aspect of that is
having a truly customer activated learning strategy
Lauraoverton

19. Top learning companies report more engagement:
Managers agree that e-learning delivers additional business
benefit
We have noticed positive changes in staff behaviour
Learners recommend e-learning to colleagues to improve job
performance
Learners put what they learn into practice quickly
0%
Bottom quartile
Sample average
20%
40%
60%
80%
Top learning companies
By understanding and responding specifically to learner needs , top learning companies
are also reporting more engagement than average- across the board
Lauraoverton

20. Turning Data into Insight and Insight into action
Engaging disengaged
learners - what action will
you take today?
www.towardsmaturity.org/2013benchmark
www.towardsmaturity.org/learner
Laura@towardsmaturity.org
lauraoverton

21. The Towards Maturity Benchmark study
is made possible thanks to Towards
Maturity’s Ambassadors:
Leading learning organisations who share our passion that independent
research should be freely available to all.
To join or find out more go to:
Lauraoverton
www.towardsmaturity.org/ambassadors

22. About Us
Towards Maturity is a benchmarking
practice that provides authoritative
research and expert consultancy
services to help assess and improve
the effectiveness and consistency of
L&D performance within
organisations. It leverages the data
gathered from the largest learning
technology benchmark in Europe.
Download our case studies to support
your business case for change at
Contact us via:
Lauraoverton
Towardsmaturity
New Learning Benchmarksn
www.towardsmaturity.org
Find out your own Towards Maturity
Index to see if you are amongst the
top learning companies at
http://mybenchmark.towardsmaturity.org/
Lauraoverton