New Learning Architect: Section Two

Thanks to Mattias Kareld (@mattiaskareld) for his question contributions this week!

Top-Down Learning

Q1) What is the best example of top-down learning you’ve ever implemented? Why?

Q2) What is the worst example of top-down learning you’ve ever implemented? Why?

Q3) Shepherd says “to many l&d professionals, top-down learning will be their only concern and the only form of learning that they recognize or even acknowledge.” What are the implications for this?

Q4) “Top-down learning is needed to control risk.” Is that its only purpose? If not, what other purposes does it serve?

Q5) Shepherd asks “How many of the training interventions in your organization are clearly aligned to current business needs, rather than fulfilling requirements articulated sometime in the distant past?”

Q6) Shepherd says “no organisation ever set up an l&d department so this department could then determine the appropriate direction for the organization.” What actions do l&d departments do that support/refute this statement?


Profile: Dick Moore

Q7) Dick believes that "if you can give people an experience that makes them feel good about themselves, they'll feel good about you!" What ways do you address self-esteem in your formal solutions?

Q8) Shepherd states "Technology should be architected to deliver a service not a solution" (loc 978) How do you differentiate between the two?

Bottom-Up Learning

Q9) What is the best example of bottom-up learning you’ve ever implemented? Why?

Q10) What is the worst example of bottom-up learning you’ve ever implemented? Why?

Q11) “While top-down learning is needed to control risk, bottom-up learning is needed to provide responsiveness.” Do you agree/disagree? Why?

Q12) Shepherd says that most people will seek out information they need rather than waiting to be told. Do you find that l&d departments believe that statement? How do we operate in ways that support/refute it?

Q13) Shepherd says organizations must give employees discretionary time for bottom-up learning. Is this time allocation prevalent in your organization? Your role?

Q14) Shepherd talks about policies that restrict bottom-up learning. What policies do you see in l&d that restrict bottom-up learning? What policies support it?