Quiznos is the fastest growing restaurant chain in terms of U.S. units. This growth is fueled by a unique corporate training program designed to teach new franchise owners and store managers, most of whom have little or no food experience, how to profitably operate a Quiznos restaurant.

This 34-page case study details Quiznos University, where “Learning Never Tasted So Good.” The university curriculum combines e-learning, on-the-job training, and classroom instruction in all areas of operation - including food preparation, accounting, inventory management, safety and sanitation, employee scheduling, marketing, and much more.

Each new franchise owner must obtain a degree from Quiznos University before his or her store opens. The curriculum includes 10 self-paced courses, three weeks of regional in-store training, and one week of classroom instruction. Knowledge retention is measured at key milestones with self-administered online tests, written tests, hands-on evaluations, and proctored examinations.

Readers will also learn about the company’s innovative and award-winning Sub Commander game, a simulation that teaches owners how to successfully build approximately 30 different sandwiches, each with different ingredients. The game is comprised of four levels, each more difficult and complex than the level before. Learners must score 100 percent on eight different tests in order to complete the entire game, which takes on average about eight hours of total time.

After reading this case study, you’ll never look at a submarine sandwich in the same way!

Research Members: Visit the research center to download your copy today.
Non-members: This case study is available to you for a limited time. Register to download today.

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M-learning, the delivery of training content on digital media devices, is in its infancy. Or is it? Bersin & Associates has been following this trend with recent research studies which indicate that the use of mobile devices is increasing. In a survey of 514 e-learning content developers, one-third of respondents said they were now delivering some content via mobile devices.

For some companies, rapid delivery is the primary reason for using m-learning. Content can be sent to mobile devices with virtually no production time. Corporations with large sales forces are now providing up-to-the-minute training on new products, competitors, and technologies using both audio and video devices. Telecommunications giant Ericsson delivers all sales training on mobile phones (Sony Ericsson phones, obviously).

Other companies are using m-learning as part of blended learning curricula. For instance, after participating in classroom instruction on installing a new part, field service representatives then receive just-in-time training modules on mobile devices. When they return to the field, representatives can refer to procedural videos if they need a refresher.

While m-learning is still in testing and prototyping phases in many organizations, the interest in this delivery mode is clear. We expect this trend toward m-learning to grow exponentially over the next several years. Fueling the transition is a new set of tools and technology to make mobile content easier to build and deliver. Systems from Giunti Labs and LiquidTalk are examples. Mobile devices are becoming increasingly sophisticated, as well.

Training managers should begin thinking now how m-learning could be used in conjunction with other learning deliveries within their organizations. It likely won’t be long until the cell phones, iPods, and other devices that are so ubiquitous will become important components of your learning initiatives.

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HR EXECUTIVE
March 2, 2007

Questions of Talent
By Andrew R. McIlvaine

What are the five questions about talent management CEOs want their HR leaders to answer? Leading HR consultant Josh Bersin offers a rundown. Click here to read the entire article.

TALENT MANAGEMENT
March 2007

The Relationship Between Competencies and Financial Performance
By Josh Bersin

In a recent research project, Bersin & Associates studied one of the pivotal elements of talent management: the use of competencies. We set out to understand what competencies drive high-growth and high-profit organizations, as well as the reverse. The results were pretty amazing. Click here to read the article.

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ANALYST BRIEFINGS

NEW
Power Briefings:
Coming To A City Near You


Bersin & Associates analysts are going on the road this spring. In April and May, analysts will be conducting one-day briefings in four major cities. Our goal is to create forums in which you can hear the latest research on key issues, discuss findings with other professionals, and hear best practices and success stories from learning leaders.

And, because we recognize your time is tight, each Power Briefing is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. We guarantee you’ll leave with more information, more insight, and more ideas than you’d typically get from much longer events.

Bersin & Associates can attend the Power Briefings at no cost. Non-members can attend for $199. Register now!

Performance and Talent Management Strategies
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Leighanne Levensaler
Baltimore Marriott Waterfront

High-Impact Leadership Development
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Kim Lamoureux
Fairmont San Francisco

Developing Your Enterprise LMS/LCMS Strategy
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Chris Howard
Fairmont Copley Plaza Boston

Introducing High-Impact Talent Management Research
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Josh Bersin
The Yale Club NYC

Special Opportunity for Members: If you’d like to set up a complimentary meeting with a Bersin & Associates analyst before or after a Power Briefing, please call 561 455 0622 or email Mike Cooke. This is a great opportunity to discuss in depth issues specific to your organization.

CONFERENCES

2007 National Human Capital Summit
March 19-21, 2007
Phoenix
Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort

Josh Bersin will lead a panel discussion, The Business Impact of Talent Management, on March 19 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. Guests include: John Havenaar, global director of talent acquisition, Whirlpool Corporation; Carol Anderson, senior vice president and director of talent and learning resources, LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc.; and Emily M. Crawford, COO and chief results officer, The Kabachnick Group (formerly vice president of training and development, Saks).

Kim Lamoureux, senior analyst, will lead a second panel discussion, Best Practices of High-Impact Leadership Development, on March 20 from 1:45 to 3:15 p.m. Guests include: Kathleen Gallo, senior vice president and CLO, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System; Irada Sadvkhova, director of learning strategies, Microsoft.

Special Offer to Members: Through a partnership with the Human Capital Institute, Bersin & Associates research members can attend this three-day event for only $895 - a significant savings from the $1,495 full price. To take advantage of this offer, include the code U3XVJJ when registering.

WEBINARS

Building and Managing Learning Content:
What’s Right for Your Organization?
March 20, 2007, 2:00 p.m. ET
Chris Howard, Principal Analyst

Effectively building and managing content is at the heart of any successful learning initiative. The learning content maturity model describes five levels for building and delivering learning content and other types of knowledge assets. The model establishes a framework for assessing an organization’s capacity and for determining if, when, and how you should your organization to a higher maturity level to meet even more complex information management demands. This webinar will help you to understand the different maturity levels for building and managing content; common challenges and strategies at each level; and how to assess the maturity level that’s right for your organization. Register for this event.

Learn from Leaders in Customer Service and Sales Training
March 26, 2007, 1:00 p.m. ET
Josh Bersin, President

Join Josh Bersin and a panel of senior learning executives for a discussion about best practices for highly effective customer service, sales and soft skills training. Panelists represent organizations named by Bersin & Associates as 2006 Learning Leaders for training programs with outstanding business results. Winning programs to be discussed include an online brokerage firm’s customer service and sales skills training for branch associates, a specialty retailer’s training for store employees on how to effectively promote the store’s credit card to shoppers, and a software firm’s technical support training for employees and external partners. Register for this event.

High-Impact Talent Management:
What Works® Best Practices, Industry Solutions and Trends
March 28, 2007, 2:00 p.m. ET
Josh Bersin, President

Corporate executives and HR organizations are undergoing a transformation to adopt new, powerful approaches to talent management. This webcast will highlight findings from Bersin & Associates’ breakthrough research study, which has been in development for more than 12 months. The presentation will cover the the key business problems driving talent management in U.S. corporations; best practices and how, when, and where they apply; the role of technology; new organizational models - and much, much more. Register for this event.

Common Misconceptions about Talent Management
March 29, 2007, 1:30 p.m. ET
Leighanne Levensaler, Principal Analyst

This presentation will highlight recent research into the talent management market and cover a variety of topics, including: how best-practice companies use talent management initiatives and solutions; the difference between talent management and performance and learning management; and the systems used to automate talent management processes. Register for this event.

External Training – Why Customer and Partner Education Changes Everything
April 11, 2007, 1:30 p.m. ET
Chris Howard, Principal Analyst

Chris Howard will present recent research and best practices on customer and partner education. The presentation will also feature a case study from Monster’s Eric Winegardner, who will discuss Monster’s successful and highly praised program. Register for this event.

2007 LMS Customer Satisfaction: What Drives Implementation Success?
April 13, 2007, 2:00 p.m. ET
April 27, 2007, 2:00 p.m. ET
Josh Bersin, President
Karen O’Leonard, Principal Analyst and Study Lead

This webinar will highlight the soon-to-be released major research study on customer implementation experiences with learning management systems. The presentation will discuss the key challenges organizations face, how different vendors address these challenges, and how vendors compare in delivering total customer satisfaction. Research is based on detailed survey results from 516 system administrators, training managers, and executives. The study evaluates a wide range of categories - product performance, customer service, technical support, and additional tools and capabilities - all from the customer’s perspective. If you’re considering an LMS purchase, planning a consolidation initiative, or involved in an implementation project, this is a must-attend session!
Click here to register for April 13.
Click here to register for April 27.

Missed it live? Research members can view all recorded webinars by visiting the research center event archives. Not a member? Sign up for a trial membership today.

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The Bersin & Associates Learning Content Maturity Model®
Chris Howard discusses The Bersin & Associates Learning Content Maturity Model® - characterizing the capabilities and capacities required to support organizations at all levels and circumstances of the learning content challenge. Download now.

North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System Case Study
This 40-page case study is a comprehensive look at how North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System (NSLIJ) has created a high-performance culture while aligning its learning to multiple business units. Download now.

High-Impact Leadership Development: Maturity Model and Six Best Practices
This research bulleting discusses Bersin & Associates Leadership Development Maturity Model® and the six best practices for leadership development. Download now.

SCORM and AICC: What Are the Differences?
In this bulletin, Chris Howard discusses the SCORM and AICC specifications that are designed to make e-learning easier to build, deploy, transport and track. Download now.

Outsourced Custom Content Development: A Changing Market
Approximately 30% of U.S. organizations oursource at lease some of their custom content development. This bulletin examines market changes and includes cost data on informational content, skills-development content, and application simulation content, based on 2007 research. Download now.

Automating Compliance Training: Best Practices and Case Studies
This 65-page report covers the types of compliance training, the technical drivers, and the organizational implications. Three case studies are included: Delta Air Lines, Holland America, and BART. Download now.

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Bersin & Associates' new Talent Management newsletter highlights research on: leadership development, performance management, competency management, recruiting, succession planning and the evolution of integrated talent management systems. In each newsletter you will find actionable research you can immediately apply. Subscribe today!

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