The research reveals that 62% of the UK's organisations are relying on user manuals and ad hoc training by colleagues (57%) to train employees in new or upgraded software applications, rather than using an EPSS. In addition, only 23% of respondents' organisations have an individual annual budget of £50 (some $85) or more for training employees in new software applications or upgrades - and 28% have no budget at all.

When asked about the benefits of EPSS software for organisations, 40% identified enabling new services and systems to be used as rapidly as possible. Other benefits of EPSS software were said to be: reducing the need for face-to-face training (35%); reducing human error (34%); making information relevant (34%), providing easy access to information (32%), empowering employees (28%) and tailoring training and learning to employees' individual requirements (29%). However, some one in three respondents could not identify any organisational benefits of using EPSS software.

Could this be further evidence of eLearning professionals being out-of-step with - or, in their terms, way ahead of - 'real' executives? In the current economic climate, user manuals and asking a colleague could easily be the executives' training tools of choice because they are cheap and relatively easy - especially if 28% of organisations have no software training budget at all.

For over 20 years, Bob Little has specialised in writing about, and commentating on, corporate learning - especially elearning - and technology-related subjects. His work has been published in the UK, Continental Europe, the USA and Australia.
You can contact Bob.