Publication date: 17 August 2009
Source: PM Online
A cost-cutting move to using virtual training technology at Xerox has boosted levels of staff satisfaction, according to the company’s head of learning and development.
Darrell Minards told PM that the photocopier-firm had been forced to move some classroom based training to the virtual world in an attempt to keep costs down, but the shift had resulted in an unexpected rise in staff training satisfaction levels.
Cash savings made by changing to ‘virtual classrooms’ also meant Xerox was able to continue some courses, such as training to be a coach, that would have otherwise been cut, Minards said.
Xerox developed in-house trainers for the virtual classrooms after being unable to find any external providers with this kind of expertise, Minards added. “I went to training providers and they knew about e-learning but not virtual classrooms. Most training organisations that I would want to employ are not clued up on this,” he said.
People called ‘learning 2.0 champions’ were picked from across the international business to learn how to get the best out of the technology, which allows people to sit at their desks and be part of a class via webcams.
Face-to-face training courses were still available when onscreen classes were not appropriate, he added.
“There is a risk that a business will use virtual classrooms for everything so we have to push back when another tool is more appropriate. It’s not the panacea to everything but it’s enabled us to do things we couldn’t have otherwise done,” Minards said.
Implementing the new strategy has cost Xerox £50,000 but Minards said the investment would continue to pay for itself. “It’s the biggest investment we’ve made in trainers and has raised the profile of L&D, which is right at the front of technology use, bringing it right up to the boardroom and president’s attention,” he said.
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