Companies should rethink how they use digital learning, says CMI

Companies need to rethink how they go about helping managers and leaders develop professional skills, according to a survey from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

The CMI’s report, “Learning to lead: the digital potential”, looked at how digital learning is used in companies and what methods of learning managers prefer.

Potential

The research, which surveyed over 1,100 UK managers, found that 97 per cent spend at least one day a year using digital learning to develop their skills, whilst 79 per cent believe that their company does not realise the digital learning potential of smartphone and web-enabled apps.

The survey also looked at how managers perceive digital learning and found that 69 per cent believe that their employers choose digital learning to cut costs, whilst one-fifth believe that it is used to provide better-quality teaching.

Preference

The learning preferences of managers were identified in the report, with younger managers being found to be more likely to opt for face-to-face training as a result of current e-learning materials not meeting the expectations of managers who are used to high-quality smartphone apps.

However, younger managers were also found to prefer advanced methods of digital training, with 41 per cent of those under the age of 35 finding games and apps useful for learning compared to just 16 per cent of those over the age of 55.

Commenting on the research, CMI Director of Higher Education Partnerships Ian Myson stated that companies need to rethink about how they use digital learning to help managers develop their skills and get the right outcomes for their company.