Elearning! Magazine: Building Smarter Companies via Learning & Workplace Technologies.
Issue link: http://elmezine.epubxp.com/i/48330
Trendlines Crowdsourcing Builds Engagement Social media has made it easier for companies to experiment with crowdsourcing (asking customers for opinions and ideas on how to tackle certain issues). According to a recent study, 38% of respondents said the primary value of social media to corpo- rate social responsibility (C.S.R.) programs is the opportunity to reach broad and diverse audiences. Additionally, 29% said the primary value of social media for C.S.R. efforts is that it allows companies to connect with consumers in a low-cost way. Corporate social responsibility is about connecting with con- sumers and the issues that matter to them. Both social media and crowdsourcing are ways to build relationships with a wide range of consumers and provide consumers unique ways to get involved with these programs and companies. This doesn't just work to sell products or services, but can really build brand affin- ity and support for a company's CSR work. Most Valuable Aspect of Crowdsourcing for Their Corporate Social Responsibility Efforts According to Fortune 200 Companies, October 2010 (% of Respondents) Surfaces new perspectives and diverse opinions 36% A way to build engagement and relationships with key audiences 25% Invites clients and customers from nontraditional sources to contribute to ideas and opinions 22% Brings new energy into the process of generating ideas 10% Other 1% —Source: eMarketer.com Top-performing organizations that use video-based inter- viewing are experiencing on average 6% annual improve- ments in retention, 13% annual decrease in length of talent search, and 15% annual decrease in cost per hire. —Mollie Lombardi, The Aberdeen Group 12 May / June 2011 1 Million Learners Added Online Headline 2 Online learning enrollment rose by almost 1 million students from a year earlier. Approximately 5.6 million students were enrolled in at least one online college course in fall 2009, the most recent term for which figures are available. "This represents the largest ever year-to-year increase in the number of students studying online," said study co-author I. Elaine Allen of Babson College. "Nearly 30 percent of all college and university students now take at least one course online." Other statistics: >> Almost two-thirds of for-profit institutions now say that online learning is a critical part of their long term strategy. >> The 21% growth rate for online enrollments far exceeds the 2% growth in the overall higher educa- tion student population. >> Nearly one-half of institutions report that the eco- nomic downturn has increased demand for face-to- face courses and programs. >> Three-quarters of institutions report that the economic downturn has increased demand for online courses and programs. —Complete report: www.sloanconsortium.org More than 98% of corporate HR personnel project current levels or modest increases in spending on management training in 2011. —SMU Cox Executive Education P.M. Loves Informal Learning Informal learning is one of the most important trends in project management (P.M.)., based on the popularity of communities of practice, social media, wikis, blogs, videos and podcasts. Some other trends: >> Leadership skills will be a critical success factor. >> No industry will be spared from the war for P.M. talent. >> P.M. competency models will be core to managing professional development and promotions. >> Experiential learning will be more the norm than the exception. >> Outsourcing will remain a risky business. >> P.M.s will team with "change partners" and use structured methods to facilitate adoption. >> The P.M.P. will continue to be the most popular proj- ect management credential in the world, but it will no longer be enough. —Source: E.S.I. International Government Elearning!