Hello all.
It’s a new year and therefore a time for new plans and new beginnings. I would like to kick off our blog discourse this year with a look at what you, our readers , are planning to begin this year.

Every so often, we at Bersin & Associates query our membership as to their research needs and priorities:  what research would be of most direct use in support of planned endeavors?  Over the past month, we sent surveys to all of our members as well as conducted interviews with a sampling.  Today, I want to share some of the captured data.

One of the questions on the survey was designed to help us get an idea of the major initiatives that lay ahead:  
Please indicate which of the following major projects or initiatives you plan to undertake in 2009?

Here are some highlights (r=174):

• 74% either will be or are considering implementing a more effective model for blended learning.
• 71% either will be or are considering implementing/increasing use of virtual classroom and webcasting approaches.
• 68% either will be or are considering reorganizing L&D to gain more business alignment and drive greater value.
• 56% either will be or are considering adopting a new strategy for social & collaborative learning.
• 55 % either will be or are considering implementing more and new mobile learning technologies.
• 44% either will be or are considering upgrading or replacing a current LMS.
• 11% either will be or are considering hiring a new CLO or leader for L&D.
• 6% either will be or are considering outsourcing the learning function.

What can we glean from this list? 

Learning & Development (L&D) functions are under tremendous pressure to evolve - to remain relevant to the business in the face of extraordinarily challenging times.   While many departments find themselves in an all-too-familiar position during a downturn: having to reorganize and reduce; for the most part, L&D is not playing it safe. Instead, they are moving forward with arduous and yet critical strategic investments.

Learning functions in organizations of all types and across the globe will be looking to optimize their organizations, operations, and most fundamental of practices, including learning development and instructional design.  They are reexamining what they do and how they do it, including models for instructional design, learning architectures, and blended learning.  Our data shows that organizations are not afraid to scrap programs or methods that are not working or showing value.

Just as learning systems are evolving in two clear directions – toward talent management and towards social and informal learning, so too are L&D departments.  They are moving to extend their reach via virtual classrooms.   Mobile and other on-demand methods are finally achieving a critical mass.

LMS providers should be on notice.  They can expect a great deal of turnover in their customer bases as their clients look to find better matches to their specific business needs and overall desired user experiences.

Does any of this sound familiar to your situation?  What are the big projects on your plate this year?  Please comment below.

Look for us to publish more data from this study and on the related research topics above very soon.

-David