Reducing the $$$ of experience based learning

Athletes train. Students study. There are formal techniques and traditions for acquiring new skills and learning in both of these arenas.

But business people have EXPERIENCE. Most companies don’t have strong traditions of skill development or study because they look at an employee’s experience as an indicator of productivity. And experience – well, it is a very risky and expensive learning structure. If you’re a smart business person, do you hire those with experience knowing that some other poor guy has already paid for all the mistakes, wrong decisions and screw-ups that it took to make that employee experienced?

Greg is in the training business, giving companies an online simulation-based tool to build skills through practice – not just through costly ‘experience.’ Greg likes to quote Vince Lombardi, “Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” And Greg’s company produces and customizes training primarily through the use of simulators and Web 2.0 tools that provide deliberate, structured, and optimal learning practice for businesses.

The company has been around for ten years now. And there have been lots of changes in those ten years. And Greg thinks we’re at a jumping-off point where even more dramatic advances are about to happen.

The sales and marketing practices that have frustrated him may be about to change. Businesses usually think of training when they need to ‘fix’ something, or when they have a ‘problem.’ Greg acknowledges that it’s more difficult to change a culture of skills than to teach it fresh. But he sees that changing as ‘time to market’ becomes a more critical competitive advantage, and as ‘knowledge workers’ become a company’s key asset. He notes that some newer companies think ‘culture’ as part of their original business plan. That culture includes learning. And that upfront, built-in learning component of a business plan will eventually shorten the sales cycle and reduce the need for market development in the corporate training arena.

Most business training is currently provided by consultants with PowerPoint presentations. It’s a loose, fragmented market. Greg thinks we’re getting closer to a killer application, however. Simulation, gaming and Web2.0 technologies are combining to get us there; and Greg would like his company to be part of that wave.

He’s piloting a new product centered on Web2.0 user-generated content and collaboration tools for ‘practice.’ He’s lined up a hot company to pilot the tool; and to pilot a new business model and to bring a strong partner ‘brand’ in to work with him. It’s all a little premature to talk about now – but we’re going to keep in touch as he moves this along.

A killer app for business ‘practice’ that reduces the risk, cost and complexities of learning through experience: That would be a killer app.