In This Issue
	What's New Selecting the Right Application Simulation Tool Customer Success Story: Implementing an LMS in 13 Weeks What Makes e-learning Programs Fail? Application Development Research Series

Selecting the Right Application Simulation Tool

One of the fastest growing segments of e-learning is training people on new software or ERP applications. We recently completed a detailed review of application simulation tools and training strategies -- and discovered some great products for building e- learning for application training. Through our research we identified the top 5 products on the market: RoboDemo Elearning Edition; ViewletBuilder; SoftSim; Firefly; and Camtasia. Most of these products are now packed with instructional-design features. The early products in this category (remember Lotus ScreenCam?) were not designed for training but rather offered recording and playback for applications like marketing demos, product documentation, and how to's for customer service. Since then, as software and ERP systems have become widespread, training people how to use applications has become a huge market -- and these products have added more and more instructional features. The word "simulation" is now key. These tools are now designed to simulate some or all of a major software system and include many features which help learners step through and interact as if they were using the real system. Developers can capture screen shots easily and even record many series of transactions. Most of the products also include built-in capabilities for creating and tracking assessments, so you can certify an individual's competency on a software application. This is especially important for mission- critical ERP software training where competency with the application is critical for effective job performance. In addition to a review of major tools, our report also includes several interesting case studies on successful software training rollouts. Interviewing these training managers revealed several important considerations for your software training efforts. Click here for the full article... »

Customer Success Story: Implementing an LMS in 13 Weeks

Ultimate Software's Education Services team is a revenue producing training operation offering fee- based training to its customers. The company saw an opportunity to increase in revenues by replacing its outdated training LMS with a more efficient and functional system. This increased revenue would be realized by providing customers with greater access to class schedules, deployment of new web-based training, and easier student enrollment. Since Ultimate Software provides fee-based training to external customers, they had unique LMS system needs not required by companies offering solely internal employee training. Their first step was to identify their unique requirements and focus on meeting these needs, enabling them to quickly narrow down their choice of vendors. This focus on specific business needs paid off. After evaluating vendor proposals and conducting two proofs of concept, Ultimate Software chose DKSystems. Of the many solutions evaluated, DKSystems required the least amount of customization to meet the company's unique requirements, resulting in lower costs and faster time-to-market for Ultimate Software's training business. With a talented internal team, a motivated executive sponsor, and a strict project management methodology, Ultimate Software was able to get the system up and running in just 13 weeks and at a cost approximately 10% under their original budget of $100,000. Read more and learn how they did it... »

What Makes e-learning Programs Fail?

In our research with dozens of companies developing and deploying e-learning programs, we have found that the biggest issue in e- learning is not content development, but rather program management. Program Management refers to the business case, marketing, launch, operations, support, technology infrastructure, change management, and business process integration which drives enrollments, completions, and impact. This is a critically important part of any program and this month we publish the industry's first end-to-end guidebook on best practices in program management. This guide is the culmination of nearly two years of research in discussions with more than 30 companies, and includes a 5-step process with loads of examples and lessons learned. It includes methodologies, checklists, and sample marketing programs you can use immediately. This guide will give you the complete methodology for success and help you make sure you do not miss anything in your program management strategy! Click here to learn more about Program Management... »

Application Development Research Series

We are offering all three of our application development studies together for a 25% discount. These studies will tell you everything you need to know to select the right tools, establish the team, and develop your e-learning content. This series includes the following studies: Application Simulation Tools: What WorksTM A guide to selecting the right application simulation tool, Content Development Tools: What WorksTM A study on the content development tools market and best practices and overview of major tools vendors, Blended Learning: What WorksTM Best practices in blended learning and how to select the right media for your learning problem. Together these three reports will tell you everything you need to know to succeed in e-learning application development, saving you months of effort and research! Learn more about these studies.. »