The Future of Induction Training

Last week, I suggested that nearly 80% of the $200 billion spent on training is wasted. That's because one-time training "events" rarely stick with the learner. As a result, I recommended following the 70/20/10 model:

• 70% of learning is informal, on-the-job performance support such as knowledgebases and job aids.
• 20% of learning happens through feedback and communication with clients/colleagues.
• 10% of learning takes place during formal courses.

A reader responded that it's important to acknowledge, however, the role of on-boarding and technical skills training. 

Good point. But I'm not sure I agree. Many of the technical skills we use daily were learned on the fly - you might ask a colleague to show you something, head out to YouTube to find step-by-step instructions, resort to using the Help function, or even use Aurasma's amazing augmented reality (http://bit.ly/P7De0S. Be amazed by the cables going into the router).

As for formal induction training, I think it's time to start thinking about its future. What would it look like if it were mobile, pull-instead-of-push, focused on young workers just entering the workforce, and not a one-time event but an on-going performance support system? I think it would look something like this:



Brian is the Practice Leader of Workforce Performance at virtualwirks. He applies the efficiencies of virtualization to training and human performance programs for global clients.