Fast Pace Forces Experiential Learning to the Fore

by Jason McClay

Education techniques and formats are evolving at a rapid pace. We have progressed from traditional chalk and talk techniques to computer based training, e-learning, gaming and experiential learning simulations. This progress will continue to gather pace with analysts such as Gartner predicting that by 2011 techniques such as gaming will emerge as a critical component in a majority of learning solutions (probability 0.8).

A large number of articles claim that the evolution of these new learning techniques has been driven by the iPod generation. With their experience of highly impressive graphics and functionality they are forcing providers to alter their approach.

I believe the real explanation is considerably simpler than that, it is in fact down to market forces (or economics). The leading providers have sharpened up their acts to design fun, engaging, contextualized offerings which are focussed on driving capability in an organization rather than certifying individuals. The success of this approach has forced the rest of the competition to raise their game.

Experiential learning simulations are inspiring and connecting with CXO’s as much as the Service Desk and Database Analysts who make up the iPod generation. Ultimately, it is the CXO’s who control the budget to ensure this form of education actually occurs and it is them as much as anyone who can see the value.

[If you are a CXO reading this with your iPod on, apologies!]

Beyond Alignment to Propulsion

by Mark Sutherland

Some things have changed in the last eight years since we founded G2G3 and some things have not. In the midst of the dot.com boom we decided to start our company having repeatedly seen people spending huge sums of money investing in tools to support their IT service management efforts, then seeing firsthand these projects fail to give any return on that investment. Whilst we now have blogs and wiki’s to share knowledge, ipods with more tracks than your local record store and enough email hitting our inboxes to drown the average human on a daily basis I am sorry to say that things have not changed much in the last eight years. People are still investing heavily in new service management tools, processes, educational programs and getting as far along the road to service management excellence as Scotland in their World-cup aspirations. At G2G3 our bugbear is not with the tools themselves - it’s how these tools, processes and educational programs are implemented. Whilst the thinking and theories supporting service management have moved forward, the approach to implementation has not. We might as well still be back in 1995 with Christmas approaching and Michael Jackson about to be No.1 with the Earth Song.

People talk incessantly about realizing benefit through alignment with the business as being a critical priority, indeed - this has been top of the Gartner CIO agenda for as long as I can remember. Well let me let you into a little secret......IT should never be aligned with the business and if it is then you’re going out of business! Achieving alignment and synchronicity on a large scale means only one thing: you’ve stopped moving. In todays reality of competition, constant change and perpetual motion, this just can’t happen. The business won’t slow down so IT must speed up. The rules have changed and the goal posts keep moving. Accept it, embrace it, adapt to it.

IT, like the military has had to do, must adopt maneuverability and situational awareness amongst people as key foundations of operational excellence. At G2G3, we believe that the time has never been better to propel people forward away from mediocrity. Mediocre consulting, mediocre processes and mediocre education lead to mediocre service or worse. The G2G3 focus is on providing rapid maneuverability, clarity of situational awareness and superb education that prepares people for adversity in todays competitive battlefield and the many threats that we face. We do this through creating highly realistic games and simulations that accelerate understanding more quickly then using any other medium. We provide information and communications to reinforce this learning so that people can work intuitively, instinctively and as a result enable them to propel your business forward.

Our hopes are that this Blog over time will serve as a reliable and trusted resource, one that helps you assess whether you’re in the past or in the future when it comes to your quest for IT operations excellence. And as an afterthought I sincerely hope that this year and next Michael Jackson will not be No.1!