Tackling Big Business Challenges: Upskilling Through Programmatic Learning

All enterprises recognise the value of a skilled workforce in delivering business outcomes and maintaining competitiveness. Keeping this workforce trained involves meeting a wide range of training needs, many of them complex. Tackling big business challenges, such as digital transformation, requires comprehensive training programmes that upskill and deliver ongoing learning, not just one-off events. And that’s where Programmatic learning comes in!  

What is programmatic learning?  

The concept of programmatic learning is not actually a new one, but technology has breathed new life into it.  

Needs change, and as they do so L&D evolves. For a time, the emphasis was away from formulaic, prescriptive learning environments in favour of content libraries, on-demand and self-driven propositions that empower and enable employees to own their learning experiences.  

Now, businesses recognise the need to supplement this learning approach with programmes capable of delivering more detailed, blended learning over a period of months. This is where the framework for programmatic, or programme-based, learning comes in. 

Rather than targeting the need for specific, small skills or just-in-time learning – which the likes of social learning and on-demand resources do very well – programmatic learning is a framework designed to target more complex organisational issues through the acquisition and application of new skills and knowledge.
  

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Programmatic learning characteristics 

These learning programmes: 

• Incorporate a variety of different learning experiences 
• Run for a prolonged period of time 
• Are commonly led by in-house subject matter experts, supported by technology 
• Develop more diverse skill sets, including complex soft or ‘durable’ skills such as leadership and customer service 
• Work in tandem with real-life upskilling applications in a ‘practice and feedback’ loop  

• Tackle more complex organisational challenges, such as digital transformations 
• Span company functions and departments. 

They are often delivered through hybrid learning, combining self-paced learning with elements of application/practice, role–play and coaching and feedback from experts, usually facilitated by technology.  

The modern learning platform 

Technology supports and drives programmatic learning experiences. Artificial intelligence, digital coaching, role–play opportunities, group work and collaboration online can reach more people and extend the capabilities of what L&D can deliver within training programmes. 

For this, the platform that supports programmatic learning delivery should:  

• Enable the creation of adaptable learning pathways through personalisation 
• Map specific learning to outcomes 
• Allow learners to undertake structured assessments, ideally supported with a feedback framework 
• Support learning in the workflow with scope for learners to evidence real-world practice through, for example, video assignments and reflections 

• Equip subject matter experts and mentors to grade and provide feedback on demonstrations of upskilling and assessments 
• Provide and support online collaboration tools  
• Automate elements of programme administration. 

As part of a rounded set of learning tools, digitally-driven learning programmes can help align L&D outcomes with business goals and deliver on some of the more complex skills challenges. The learning platform, through a range of features and capabilities, can help meet the challenge for this type of training from within the framework of a flexible, measurable learning system. 

To find out more about programmatic learning and how L&D can help meet the challenge of complex skills development, download our eBook here 

Written by

Elisa Montes

International Digital Marketing Manager