To support strategic learning initiatives takes a significant amount of work that most organizations underestimate. This work needs to take place on five parallel tracks to come together effectively and drive target results.

Click the links above to begin exploring these tracks.

How important is this to your business? Have you established a budget that will support all five tracks of work? Do you know when you will "break even"? Have you identified the specific, measurable business objectives the solution must deliver, and how you will measure them, including target audience behaviors?

Have you selected the instructional design approach that will best deliver on your business objectives? Are you getting the most value you can per minute of instruction? Are you focused on certifying that people know stuff, or is your solution designed to move people into action and make a difference?

What are your precise technology needs? Have you determined what vendor partners, authoring tools, hosting parameters, learning management system, level of interactivity, standards compliance, and so forth are best suited to meet your business objectives? Do you fully understand what you're buying?

How strong a marketing plan do you have? How will your target audience discover what you offer? If they search for it online, does your search engine optimization strategy assure they will find it? Could social media and other PR strategies help? Do you need change management?

What does your long-term staffing strategy suggest about how you should approach this project? Are you trying to build internal competencies and self-sufficiency? Looking to outsource this function entirely? Just needing a helping hand, short-term? These are critical considerations for obtaining the best value.