Training Industry Magazine - July/August 2020 - 33

software? There are benefits across
business functions, as well as broader
strategies for collaboration.

COMMON CHALLENGES IN
LEARNING ANALYTICS
What is stopping learning from being
better with data? Usually, learning
leaders say, "We don't have access to
the data," or "This is very complicated,
and we don't have the capability." These
may resonate and if so, all is not lost!
You may find it's an issue of legality, as
data and access to it have increasingly
become a sticky subject. GDPR
legislation and scandals with personal
data have only fanned the flames.
However, we are not talking about the
abuse of data nor are we often looking
at an individual's data. When assisting
business strategy, we look at trends in
data collection. Anonymized data can
be used extensively, and we can account
for different laws across locations. A
proper discussion about data's use and

its benefit to the business usually results
in a positive outcome.
Second, more and more platforms are
making it possible to share data with
other platforms, even if not created by
the same company. HR systems can talk
to a customer relationship management
(CRM) system. That CRM can then talk to
a survey tool that talks to an e-commerce
platform. The data is there; it just needs
to be directed to the right place.
Although it may look complex, the
use of dedicated data visualization
tools can make light work of sourcing
and processing data. These tools are
designed to collect vast quantities of
data and allow you to sort it in a way
that makes sense. They simplify the
complex and present information in an
engaging form.
It is also likely that you have an inhouse data capability. Utilize them;
data scientists love a new data source.
Vendors are also building their own
data teams now and offering this

service to their customers. Remember,
senior management will be looking at
business functions that present data
in this way. L&D does not want to be
behind the curve.

SUMMARY
Data is the new oil, and L&D is perfectly
positioned to harness this data in
meaningful ways. It does not need to be
complex - only thoughtful. L&D can be
the arbiter of change and success for
the business but also the mechanism by
which the capabilities of an organization
can be assessed. Learning has a unique
opportunity to understand the needs
of the business, implement a solution,
track the routes to success and help the
business make strategic decisions. All
based upon evidence provided by data.
Tom Ridley is the UK head of sales and
learning consultant at Valamis. He has
worked in L&D in various roles for the
last 15 years. Increasingly, his focus has
been on technology and its links to data
and its interpretation. Email Tom.

T R A I N I N G I N DUSTR Y MAGAZ INE -DATA FLUENCY IN LEARNI NG 2 02 0 I WWW. T RAI NINGINDU S T RY . C OM/ MAGAZ I NE

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Training Industry Magazine - July/August 2020

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