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Learning Technology Categories Increasingly Blurry
By Richard Nantel | March 18, 2008
I delivered a Webinar session last week titled “Learning Technology 101: LMS, LCMS, & Talent Management Systems.” In this session, I described the features found in these three types of enterprise technologies and mentioned that the distinctions between them is becoming blurry.
Many learning management systems (LMSs) now include traditional learning content management (LCMS) features, specifically, the ability to manage and reuse content stored as elements or learning objects within a database. According to our current research, 61 percent of the LMSs we cover at Brandon Hall Research currently contain this feature.
Learning content management systems are in turn becoming full fledged learning management systems. Nearly half of the LCMSs we cover can manage learning events and track the progress of learners.
Finally, talent management systems are overwhelmingly adding traditional LMS features. Nearly two-thirds of the talent management systems we cover include the ability to track learners and learning events.
As publishers of research about learning technology, this poses some challenges. Into what research report do we place a product? But this is nothing compared to the challenges facing buyers of these technologies.
Potential buyers are now faced with vendors that describe their systems using terms such as “workforce productivity suites.” I can understand the problem these vendors face. What do you call a system that includes such disparate features as succession planning and course development?
I hope we don’t see a return to the buzzword of the 90s, “solutions.” My fear has always been that this terminology would spread to other areas, forcing us, for example, to endure automakers calling their products “transportation solutions” instead of cars.
The “Learning Technology 101: LMS, LCMS, & Talent Management Systems” Webinar will be repeated on April 17, at 1:30 p.m. ET. Attendance is free. You can sign up here.
Topics: LCMS, LMS, Learning Content Management Systems, Learning management systems, Talent Management |
