Byrne Tony Byrne

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Education versus Training

6-Oct-2010

Tags: Digital and Media Asset Management, Document Management (ECM), Enterprise Collaboration & Social Software, Portals and Content Integration, Web Content and Experience Management, Building Business Case, Implementation

Most enterprises I encounter who are implementing new information management systems (like Web CMS, Portals, DAM tools, etc.) understand the importance of employee training, and we certainly advise customers to pay close attention to it within RFPs as well as subsequent program planning and roll-outs.

However, unless your workplace is some sort of rigid digital production line, your colleagues need something else besides training. They need education.  Education means explaining to people why you're implementing the system, including the broader context and hoped-for benefits, along with future enhancements.

To be sure, both training and education are important.  They just emphasize different things.

Training

  - 

Education
How  -  Why
Details  -  Context
Process  -  Adaptation
Now  -  Future
Proficiency  -  Benefits

 

Education becomes particularly important with social and collaboration tools, where your colleagues' lack of clarity around purposes and norms may make them cautious about participating.

Many social software vendors we cover argue that their tools are "so easy to use you don't need training."  That's bunk. Training is almost always essential.  But even if your colleagues take readily to simple tools like blogs, that doesn't mean they understand the purpose, value, and expectations regarding posting and commenting.

Information management systems rarely work as advertised, especially with initial implementations.  People who understand the bigger picture will adapt and get more value from the technology in the long run.

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