5.b.+Section+2+-+Hayes

5b Executive Summary

Online learning (e-learning) has many advantages to both the employee and the employer. Through the online learning it can increase productivity and save costs in education. This type of learning has benefited many other companies have been able to plug into. The uses of this technology will assist the company in updating to the twenty first century and will keep us competitive in the business market. The companies that have used an e-learning solution found that it offered many benefits and cost savings. While these companies also encountered some difficulties, there are solutions that can solve these challenges.

**Paper Products, Inc. Could Greatly Benefit From E-Learning.** Online learning requires no commute and is appealing for employees who travel regularly
 * Less expensive than the regular classroom college expenses
 * Can free up timely, and expensive training hours
 * Has concentrations that are specific to the company's needs
 * Encourage employees to advance and develop from their jobs

**E-Learning Challenges Can Be Overcome.** Although E-Learning has received a bad reputation because of its high drop-out rates, there are simple solutions that can help aid this main dilemma:
 * Employees claim of lack of time
 * Solution: Give employees the ability to start a course anytime
 * Trouble completing courses from their desktops because of frequent distractions at work, while some could only access courses through the company's intranet
 * Solution: Provide employees with internet access at home
 * There is lack of management oversight
 * Solution: Active correspondence with an online facilitator with frequent virtual office hours
 * Lack of motivation
 * Solution: Give reinforcement on attendance,
 * Problems with technology
 * Solution: Access to a 24-hour, 7 day a week, technical support
 * Lack of student support
 * Solution: Provide interactivity:
 * Individual learning preferences
 * Solution: Inform employees of college credit, or certificates through e-learning
 * Poorly designed courses, substandard/inexperienced instructors
 * Solution: Develop a culture that takes online learning as seriously as a classroom training

E-Learning has become an effective way to train employees! Here are some testimonials:
 * **IBM**'s training bill was cut by $350 million last year - mostly because online courses don't require travel.
 * **GMU** now uses interactive satellite broadcasts to teach salespeople the best way to highlight features
 * **Merck** conducts interactive classes over the web, allowing sales reps to learn about the latest product information at home rather than fly to a conference center
 * **McDonald's** trainers can learn skills through e-learning
 * **Home depot** has used e-training to ut a full day from the time required to train new cashiers
 * **Black & Decker's** sales representatives freed up 17 days every year with online training.

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