When you’re overseeing a learning and development (L&D) project, ensuring it heads in the right direction every step of the way is essential. If you’re regularly running into issues during that journey – be it missing deadlines, going over budget, or not achieving the desired outcome – revamping your approach is essential.
Fortunately, embracing the right best practices makes a significant difference, and most aren’t difficult to implement. Here are the steps you need to take to manage an L&D project effectively.
Know Your Goal and Basic Premise
Before taking any other steps, you need to know what the goal is for your L&D project. Figure out what you need to impact, how you’ll measure success, and what the business purpose is for the project. You also need to dive into other details. Formalize the available budget, determine what modalities you’ll use, identify the deadline and key milestones, and outline the stakeholders. You also need to factor in the technologies and tools that are involved, both for creation and delivery. That gives you an initial framework to follow, making it easier to remain on target.Gather End User Input
In some cases, L&D professionals overlook needs that are common among the end-user population. As a result, it’s best to gather feedback early on in the process, as well as regularly as the project advances. Identify a sample group that represents the various types of end users. Then, get their input to determine if any of the resulting systems fall short of their needs, is cumbersome, or is confusing.Identify the Required Skills to Properly Staff
Once you know what the project involves, you need to assess the skillset the involved team needs to bring to the table. This can include technical capabilities, financial knowledge, compliance familiarity, visual design abilities, writing skills, and more. After knowing which skills are necessary, it’s easier to avoid skill gaps when creating the team.Select a Development Methodology
Choosing a development methodology to follow gives you a roadmap for laying out the project. It’ll help you assess what deliverables are needed when, and how the process will move forward. The two most common variants are linear and iterative development. However, there are unique methodologies in both categories, each with its own benefits and drawbacks, so it’s best to analyze them to pick a suitable option.Figure Out Implementation and Execution Support
It’s usually best to determine what’s support is necessary for the successful implementation and execution of the project. In some cases, those leading training or providing end-user support directly will need their own training to serve well in their roles. For technology-based coursework, there may be broader system needs, such as integration with existing login credentials, suitable server space and connectivity, and more that you’ll need to address. By knowing this now, you have time to make the needed arrangements. Then, once the coursework is ready, there won’t be unnecessary delays.Do You Need L&D Professionals to Support an Upcoming Project?
At Clarity, we have 30 years of experience in L&D, giving us the knowledge and expertise to support a wide array of L&D projects. Plus, if you’re trying to expand your internal L&D team, Clarity can be your candidate search ally, connecting you with top talent right when you need them. If you want to partner with leading L&D professionals, Clarity Consultants is here. Contact us today.
