Susan Underhill discusses business and human capital

» What’s your opinion of distance learning?

» Training channel partners in far corners of the world

HP sells a very significant portion of our products and solutions through a global network of channel partners – tens of thousands of partners with hundreds of thousands of employees – in virtually every country in the world.

» Entering a virtual world to “encounter knowledge”

After a busy and snowy start (122 inches season to date and more forecasted for tomorrow!) to 2008, I’m finally catching up on some reading and came across an article that got me thinking futures (in both Learning and summertime!). The Vanishing Point of Learning: How Can You Use It? in a recent Chief Learning Officer magazine explored the future in Learning using web-based second lives, simulation games and the wiki sphere to promote experiential learning – even if that experience is only virtual.

» Do “McQaulifications” prepare workers for a bright future?

I’ve heard about “on the job training,” but “on the job diplomas”?

In January, the British government announced a plan to allow residents to obtain the equivalent of a high school diploma by completing rigorous on the job training programs offered by commercial companies like fast food company McDonald’s, railroad operator Network Rail, and low-cost airline Flybe.

The three companies are England’s first employers given the right by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to grant employees recognized vocational equivalents of A-levels and GCSEs. (A-level, or Advanced Level, is a General Certificate of Education qualification often used in the UK as a college entrance requirement. GCSE, or General Certificate of Secondary Education, is a set of qualifications taken by UK students aged 14-16.)

» You are as old as your skills

A recent Wall Street Journal article dared to ask “How old are you?” and the answer was “As old as your skills.” The article cites cases where age-bias may have played a role in a job applicant not getting a job offer from a prospective employer. Deborah Russell, director of work-force issues at AARP, the large Washington-based advocacy group for older adults, is quoted as saying "There continue to be the same stereotypes about older workers, such as they're not willing to try new things and don't have the experience with technology."

» A commitment to learning drives business success in India

Not long ago, I made my first trip to India. I wasn’t sure what to expect, given that India is in the throes of a rapid transformation from third world country to first world economic powerhouse. Now, having met scores of people in the Indian IT sector, I can see what is driving this country: the people have a strong commitment to learning that translates into business success.

» What if we don’t train them, and they stay?

There’s a concern in the HP partner community about spending the time and money to provide training and possibly even certification opportunities to employees. I hear it all the time: “What if we spend thousands of dollars to train an employee, and he just leaves the company when he completes the training?”

» Rent A Cert: Smart business model or unethical breach of trust?

There’s been a lively discussion taking place in the certification community about a new business called Rent A Cert. The premise of the business is simple. Rent A Cert finds individuals who hold legitimate high-value Cisco and Microsoft credentials and matches these people with VARs who need to have “x” number of certified professionals on staff in order to attain a specific level of partnership with Cisco or Microsoft.

» ‘Training is for babies and puppies’

I hope this rather bold statement doesn’t offend anyone, particularly those who make a living in the training field. The statement in the following quote caught my attention in a recent article in the January 2006 issue of Chief Learning Officer magazine by James Mitnick, Senior Vice President of Turner Construction.

“TKN (Turner Knowledge Network) is not about training. Training is for babies and puppies. TKN is about performance, where learning, knowledge and collaboration intersect.”

» Put on your cross-training shoes; it’s time to learn about the business

Has your company ever tried to move you into a job that was outside your comfort zone? You know, one that you didn’t feel fully qualified for because you didn’t have quite the right expertise or skills, but that you thought you might be able to handle with some training and help.

» Prevent cheating with hands-on testing: an impractical solution to a minor problem

It seems that cheating on certification exams is on the minds of a lot of people these days. Almost everywhere I go to read, someone is discussing exam cheating. Recently, Brian Summerfield, senior editor of Certification magazine (which is devoted to the IT industry) wrote an editorial about exam cheating. Summerfield suggests ways to reduce instances of cheating and boost the value of IT credentials.

» Certification cheating in the military

I’ve written a few times about people cheating on certification exams in order to receive a credential or other benefit. Yes, this happens in the IT industry, but we certainly aren’t the only ones with a cheating problem. Have a look at this article in the Boston Globe, Army probes alleged exam cheating.

» Are large training conferences a waste of your employees’ time and your money?

I’ve just been reading a timely article by Dr. Patti Phillips, Ph.D., in Chief Learning Officer magazine. The article is called “We Have to Stop Meeting Like This.” What makes it timely (at least for me) is that it’s about how companies can derive value from having employees attend large training conferences. As it happens, this week I’m attending HP’s Tech Forum (HPTF is a large technical training event for employees, partners and customers).

» Culture plays a part in the way we view “cheating”

» Speak out: Is it “cheating” or “team-building”?

In a recent post, I pointed out the BusinessWeek commentary about the B-school cheating scandal at Duke University. The commentary is interesting, but the reader responses are even more revealing. They indicate that we really do have a moral debate about what constitutes “cheating” in our modern society.