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Among other things, the survey suggested that the boundaries between learning and development (L&D) and OD will continue to blur as learning is embedded into the way organisations work.
Jackie Orme, the CIPD’s CEO, discussed the survey’s findings in her closing address to the recent Training Journal conference, held in central London. She observed that, in this recession, redundancies are being undertaken on a much more considered basis and spare capacity is being used to develop employees and operating processes.
It is the capability of the organisation’s people that will drive it out of recession, she argued. Retention of key staff is critical to being prepared to benefit from the upturn.
The conference highlighted the increasing importance of L&D to organisational success in the current economic downturn. In addition to the importance of investing in people to build their competence, L&D is essential to driving employee engagement and sustained performance.
Taking up this theme, Ms Orme said that, in an era where change is the norm, those designing and managing change should work hand-in-hand with those responsible for skilling the workforce.
Alistair Morrison, Echelon’s CEO, commented: “The general conclusion of various recent reports and surveys, along with current practitioner thinking is that organisations must put their money where their mouths are in terms of recognising the capacity and criticality of their organisation’s ‘most valuable asset’.
“L&D alone is not the answer. Instead, its integration with business planning and organisational design - to shape the structure and performance of the best practice organisation - is essential. The growing role of HR in strategic planning is a welcome sign - and L&D professionals must step up to the plate to ensure that training delivers the competencies required by the organisation and that training can be applied quickly in the context of the organisation, its customers and its market.
“Jackie Orme is right that HR is no longer merely one discipline,” he continued. “Rather, it’s an amalgam of sub-specialisms, within each of which the level of skill required for success is continually growing.
“The contribution of HR to workforce planning in support of organisational strategy is miles away from just being about ‘recruitment and rations’. This highlights the growing importance of HR as an agent of change and reflects a major shift in its purpose,” Morrison added.
“The role of the HR practitioner is about supporting people managers to achieve their objectives. HR is increasingly seen as a value-adding function and an essential component in creating the sustained capability and flexibility required for the organisation to achieve its future vision.”
In supporting this, Echelon sponsored the management of change award at the event’s accompanying TJ Awards – hosted by the broadcaster and former high profile Lebanon hostage, John McCarthy. The prize went to Safestore, represented by Avril Jones, who not only collected that award but also the award for the best overall project.
About the CIPD/ Training Journal research/ reports
Training Journal’s recently published research, ‘L&D 2020: Shaping change in learning’, has explored how Learning & Development (L&D) in organisations might evolve over the next five to ten years, and considered the implications for L&D professionals. The report identifies the trends and developments likely to impact the world of L&D in the four areas of Society, Work & Business, Brain & Mind and Technology. It goes on to outline a range of potential future scenarios that might emerge for L&D:
• L&D is queen – impact of learning is clear and learning & well-being are highly important for organisations, learning is for whole life not just work
• Organisational necessity – economy and competition are tough, learning is focused on just immediate work issues and is seen as a cost to be contained
• National learning – UK Plc is struggling and the government is driving the learning and well-being agenda, companies are reluctant to invest in training.
The report’s emerging conclusions include the predictions that:
• The importance of continuous, informal, social learning will continue to grow and will require L&D professionals to become competent in creating the conditions for this to occur
• Individuals will increasingly look for ways for their informal learning to be recognised (accredited) to demonstrate their value in the market
• The skill of learning will become increasingly important and people will need to be helped to become even more effective at learning for themselves and with others.
• While individuals will find ways to learn for themselves, the role of the line manager in focusing and reinforcing learning will continue to be crucial.
• New technologies are not just ways of delivering the same content differently. They open up new opportunities for people to learn.
• The boundaries between learning and development (L&D) and OD will continue to blur as learning is embedded into the way organisations work.
• There will be a shift in balance of the L&D professionals’ skillset towards greater business understanding, change management, organisation development and use of new technologies.
About Echelon Learning Ltd
Echelon is an organisation development consultancy with a 20-year track record of delivering targeted communication, training and performance support solutions that really make a difference to corporate, government and not-for-profit organisations and professional bodies.
The company helps its clients create and sustain improved operational performance by developing high levels of employee engagement and competence that leverage their ability to achieve outstanding results, particularly in times of change.
Echelon publishes a wide range of business and management solutions that offer job support and lifelong career development.
Clients include: Channel Tunnel Rail Link, London Overground Rail (LOROL), Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply, Department of Work and Pensions, Festival Housing Association, NHS, Royal Town Planning Institute, T-Mobile, Translink.
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