So you need to build a content plan. Now what? First, know that this is an investment in your employees and your customers, and it requires a big-picture plan for success. Before you decide to purchase or create any specific pieces of content or spend a dime on a content library, take a step back and assess the needs of your business as a whole. Your content plan will have the best results when tied to the overall business drivers.
In order to have an effective content plan, there are several factors you must consider. Here are six tips to help you build a comprehensive company-wide content plan.
In order to identify your content needs, you should take an inventory of what content is currently being used. This will help align all departments' needs and business objectives.
Determining the similarities and differences among audiences can save you money by uncovering departments with similar goals for learning. There might be shared resources that multiple audiences can use. For example:
Not all content is the same. Some curricula should be prioritized due to learning objectives and timelines. Some curriculum is customized and will have longer development times. In order to determine what curriculum is most important, there are a few questions you should ask yourself.
Some employees and customers will only consume learning during specific times and locations. Manufacturing and roles that don’t have a lot of desk time will need consideration for learning times and location. Learning may need to be created as audio, video, eLearning, classroom, reading and 1:1 learning depending on the role and the needs of the learners.
Once all the content is organized throughout the company – per department and per audience, business outcomes can be aligned, and budgets assigned. Content creation options should be matched to timelines, approach, type of content, and budget. Some options for content creation include:
Measuring learning content against the objectives and overall knowledge transfer allows for a continuous cycle of improvement. ROI with learning is hard to quantify but if your key performance indicators are focused and organized, you can build in the measurement and effectiveness from the beginning.
The success of your training is dependent on your awareness of the state of your content and the current and future needs of your company. From there, you can build a company-wide content plan that benefits your learners and enriches your organization. It’s all about the data!
Bluewater offers a unique set of Content Services that help you improve the links among knowledge, learning, and individual and organizational performance both within and, importantly, beyond the Learning organization. Contact us to learn more!