Training Best Practices/Subject Matter Experts

Because Nestle (270,000 employees) has a very decentralized training function, with training development occurring inside many of the Nestle lines of business (such as Carnation, Perrier, Purina, Nestle chocolate, etc.); the company established a staff of centralized training resources. The purpose of the central staff is not to create training for the operate, rather their purpose is to train "learning champions" across the organization and also to establish centralized tools and processes for creating online learning.

Several years ago, the central training group came up with a plan to have Subject Matter Experts (SME) create learning content directly inside PowerPoint with a central repository for all master PowerPoint source material. The consistent format of the training material allows "learning champions" to download, repurpose, translate, etc. the content for their own use.

Methods Used
The plan focused around 3 main objectives:


 * Use a tool, common to all groups, to convert the PowerPoint Source material online.


 * Provide specific training to the groups on (1) how to develop instructionally sound PowerPoint learning materials and (2) how to use the features and functions of PowerPoint.


 * Encourge knowledge sharing amongst business units

Results
In a very short time frame, the groups used 50 SME's to create over 200 learning modules, available in 13 languages with only a few months of development time.

Learners rated the courses highly, stating that the courses are "more engaging because of the realism and the relevance" of the material created by SME's.

Techologies Used
The company uses Impatica for PowerPoint to Learning conversions and SumTotal LMS as the central delivery engine.

Lessons Learned

 * Many learning modules have a short shelf life, so the most cost-efficient way to produce the content is through SME-developed, rapid authoring using PowerPoint.


 * In many cases, you don’t need an LMS to launch and track the learning. The content map approach provides more flexibility when accessing learning content.


 * Competencies should most often be measured on-the-job and not through online learning. Online learning works well for teaching, but assess outside the course using more traditional measures.


 * If more interaction is needed for instructional purposes, add a “learn more” link to provide additional opportunities. These can be online, such as simulations, or perhaps can even give someone an assignment to talk to another person or engage in on-the-job learning.


 * Content stored in PowerPoint is much easier to translate than content organized in other authoring tools.


 * PowerPoint-converted learning can be used for self-paced learning, but many people overlook its potential for using the same material for group learning in a classroom setting. We’ve found that it works great for facilitated learning.