Survey responses show that learning strategy is inarguably being driven by the need to deliver new skills, support business transformation, and the need to improve upon strategies already in place. This means that change will be the only certainty. To ensure that the learning strategy can deliver against these demands and challenges, 88% of respondents believe that building an agile learning culture will be important. For 1000-5000 person businesses, 92% think building an agile culture is extremely important or important. This is a similarly high level to 2022.
However, despite the acknowledgement that iterable and incremental learning structures that can make learners, teams and the wide organisation more agile and adaptable — built on efficient delivery, data insights, and suitable to evolving learner and business needs — is the best way forward, implementation of agile learning is proving more challenging than expected.
In 2022, 23% of organisations were defining the scope of agile learning and over four in ten were implementing it. In 2023, 52% are defining the scope and only 19% are implementing. A 21% drop off in those actually embedding an agile learning culture.
This indicates that in the space of 12 months, many are stepping back and trying to re-frame what an agile learning culture is and make sure they’re going to implement it correctly. However, a business that has an agile learning culture is one in an ongoing process. It is a process that is never truly finished. Those who are getting started are setting the right environment for success by using the right balance of content, technology and services.
Many who are implementing agile learning cultures successfully are likely relying on a 4e method. Exciting stakeholders about the learning culture changes upcoming, engaging them with impactful learning experiences (both virtual and in-person), embedding this learning and culture change by providing ongoing support where learners need it and then evolving the learning culture by leveraging data insights to continuously improve.
It’s worth thinking about for those taking a step back in 2023.
What are the main barriers/challenges to becoming more agile in your learning culture?
