Content integration is a critical problem for most e-learning content buyers. Multiple content sources, multiple LMSs, and high integration costs are among the many factors that contribute to the challenge of content integration.

Over the last five years, the expectation among buyers of e-learning systems was that industry standards (e.g. AICC and SCORM) would solve many of these integration challenges. While the standards have made progress in making integration a reality, today they are not able to provide a comprehensive solution. Cynics of emerging standards have commented, "The great thing about standards is that there are so many of them." This cynicism is well placed in the e-learning industry. There are at least four major initiatives under way (SCORM, CMI001/AICC, IEEE, IMS) and an even larger number of minor efforts across the world.

We find that these standards and content integration issues are not well understood by buyers, resulting in surprises at the complexity and cost involved. The purpose of this paper is to explore the challenges organizations face with technology integration in e- learning and provide some guidance to buyers for dealing with the issues.

Rapid E-Learning is an exploding new segment of the e-learning market. New tools for Powerpoint conversion and rapid development make it easier than ever for trainers, subject matter experts, and developers to build online courseware. If you are building e-learning programs or tools you should become familiar with this marketplace.

Here's what you will learn:

• What are the best practices for rapid development processes and Rapid Instructional Design?
• How do you select the right tool? How do these tools work with PowerPoint and other desktop tools?
• How do you build instructional templates for reuse and efficiency?

This 70+ page analysis includes a review of all the top tools:

• Self Study: Macromedia Breeze, Articulate, DirectWeb, Learn.com, ReadyGo, RoboDemo, Trivantis Lectora, Outstart Trainersoft.
• Live: iLinc, Centra, Interwise, LearnLinc/iLinc, Macromedia Breeze Live, WebEx.

In 2001, Deutsche Telekom established a strategic goal to improve its self-directed, online training programs. At the time, the company did not have an enterprise-wide system or process for making the move to e-learning or encouraging employees to be responsible for their own training and development. Each business unit had multiple training systems (a total of 12 across all divisions) which resulted in an "islands of information" problem that prohibits an enterprise-wide view of all training programs and progress.

The Head of Corporate Learning was chartered with finding a single enterprise-wide system that would enable the company to improve employee performance and reduce the overall expenditures for training.

After a lengthy evaluation process, Deutsche Telekom selected SAP's Learning Solution. The benefits of SAP's solution included:

• The IT organization indicated that using SAP would require less custom development to interface to existing business applications including the HRMS and the enterprise portal. The LMS would be tightly interfaced with other SAP modules which were already in place in order, for example, to manage the procurement of training across the divisions.
• The LMS could be used to individually access both formal and informal learning content.
• SAP also provided extensive customization capabilities that could accommodate various workflow scenarios for different business units.

We have two upcoming webinars scheduled to discuss the findings of our recent research. Both of these webinars are free and are hosted by Josh Bersin.

Our July 15 webinar will feature findings from our latest industry study "Learning Management Systems 2004."This study is a comprehensive look at how LMS's are used, key market trends, and how the top 17 vendors compare.

• When: July 15, 11am Pacific/2pm Eastern
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