Selecting the appropriate learning content management system for an organization starts with identifying the learning strategy and requirements. Today there are so many packages to manage the virtual learning and many Universities and Institutions are using it to deliver the learning content to as many learners and students.
Purchasing a learning management environment is a major investment, so it is important to clearly define and prioritize requirements in order to find the right Learning Management System that will meet core requirements initially and grow to meet subsequent requirements in the future.
Pat Alvarado is an independent consultant specializing in corporate learning and learning technology, who has given seven steps to select an appropriate Learning Management System for any organization. It may not work for every organization but it may be used as the guidelines for the same.
1. Determine the Learning Strategy
Most of the learning organizations have their precise learning strategy and if not then this should be the first task on your notepad to be structured in place. If not, now is the time to develop one. In developing a strategy, consider the target audience—their learning preferences, their locations, the resources that are available to them to attend learning programs, etc. Corporate goals and objectives should also be defined and the strategy aligned to them.
2. Document Requirements
Specific requirements should be defined in each of the areas mentioned previously. One of the key factors in finding the right Learning Management System for an organization is matching a Learning Management System to requirements, not the other way around.
It is also important to prioritize requirements in a range from core (high) to low. High-priority or core requirements are absolutely necessary for the Learning Management System to meet within the initial implementation or launch of the system. Any core requirement that cannot be met should dismiss the Learning Management System from consideration.
Another consideration is that particular Learning Management System can be filled with customization or extension of the Learning Management System and how well the Learning Management System adapts to such customizations or extensions. Customization refers to changeable parameters within the confines of the out-of-box design of the Learning Management System, while extensions refer to the ability to integrate or interface additional functionality not originally included in the Learning Management System design.
Also, consider hosted versus installed systems. Hosted systems are maintained by the Learning Management System provider, which acts as an Application Service Provider (ASP).
3. Research Learning Management System Companies
In order to make the most appropriate decision, it will be necessary to research profiles of each potential Learning Management System vendor. Information is usually available on their web sites. Additionally, research and comparison reports may also be available from research firms.
4. Prepare the Request for Proposal (RFP)
The RFP should be prepared based upon the requirements. In the RFP, it is not necessary to indicate priorities of requirements, nor list them in any specific order, so that each requirement is responded to equally.
Finally, provide a short response time for the RFP. This will give an indication as to how hard a company will work for the business and can be a strong indicator as to how they will perform in a business relationship. It should not be the sole indicator, however; there are other opportunities to establish this type of estimate.
5. Review the Proposals
The review team should have sufficient time to review the proposals and establish a rating system that all can agree upon. Each rating should also include comments for both positive and negative impressions. In this manner, quantitative measures of the ratings are not only considered, but also subjective impressions of each criterion.
6. Schedule Meetings and Demos
After the proposal review is complete, meetings and demos should be scheduled so that the vendors can answer specific questions and demonstrate their claims on the proposal. They should also be required to demonstrate the scenarios provided. This is crucial in determining how compatible or flexible their environment is. It is also important to make clear what part of the functionality is included out-of-box with minor configuration changes and what part requires customization beyond the quoted price.
7. Make the Selection
Finally, a selection can be made after carefully reviewing and internally discussing the impressions made by each vendor during each meeting. This is a serious and long-term investment, so it is important to have complete cooperation among the members of review team. It is also important to build in contingency plans in case certain features that are expected in the initial implementation are not done in time, or other unexpected delays or problems arise.
