How is the Training Industry Changing? 10 Predictions for 2009…

Doug - First, a well written article and thank you. Here are my Five Observations as to Training in 2009: 1. With the retirement of the babyboomers at least in the U.S., succession leadership will begin to inch its way to center stage this year and for the next several years. 2. Outsourcing of development (not necessarily training) will be increased because of the inherent silo nature of most HR departments 3. Increase in use of assessments to ensure that the right people are in the right seat as well as the bus (organizational environment) is not toxic 4. Increase in infusion of blended delivery, teleconference, face to face and one on one executive coaching to maximize human capital which is the greatest and usually most underutilized asset in any organization. 5. Greater focus on higher order thinking skills and making the correct decisions with fewer people and more responsibilities.

You reported in the top ten market predictions that SME and user developed content would be the future core of online training. While I think you are right, SME content developers are likely to increase, but I think it will be for less complex training and for training content that lends itself to an online delivery mode. In my experience, SMEs don't have a lot of spare time to develop training, that's why they are SMEs and kept busy with their job duties. Even with tools that claim to be easy to use and robust in nature that SMEs can use to develop training, there is more to training than mating an SME to a training tool and say go get 'em tiger. I've seen a lot of SME-designed training and generally, it can be problematic. These new tools better be really smart.

You said, in point 1. which I precieved as the acquiring of training services will decrease to 10%. If am right, then i think we can only get benefit out of this slow economic time by investing on our infrastructure and workforce development. Companies who will sustain till the end of 2010 are my heros, only they will be able to enjoy the business hype that has already been forecasted by experienced economists. I say get your systems and workforce certified whether its an ISO certification or other international certifications. Question from the customers in 2010 onwards will be," ARE YOU CERTIFIED IN DOING WHATEVER IS BEING ASKED"?

Are these figures suggestive for worldwide or Localised? This year will be a year of uncertainty.

Thanks for your question. The numbers in the predictions relate to the North American market. Because we are in the midst of a global economic recession, the numbers are somewhat reflective of what we are seeing in European, Asian and Indian markets. The predictions related to changes in how training is being managed tend to also be indicative of what is happening in the global training market.