1

Leading the Learning Leading the Learning FunctionFunction

September 14, 2009Dr. Gretchen Van der Veer

Director, Office of Leadership Development and Training

Corporation for National and Community Service

2

Learning Goals for this SessionLearning Goals for this SessionBy the end of this session, participants will be able

to:• identify the value of the learning function to their

organization• identify some trends in the nonprofit/national

service sector• write a business plan for the learning function

based on organizational business goals• better understand your role as a strategic leader

of your organization

3

Source Documentation for Source Documentation for this Sessionthis Session

• Crutchfield, L.R. and McLeod Grant, H. Forces for good: the six practices of high-impact nonprofits. Jossey- Bass, San Francisco, CA, 2008.

• Managing the learning function. American

Society for Training and Development, Alexandria, VA, 2006 updated version.

4

Understanding the Context Understanding the Context for the Learning Functionfor the Learning Function

Discussion Questions:• In this era of economic retrenchment and

budget cuts across all sectors, why should the learning function continue?

• What’s the rationale? What’s the value?

5

Training for ExcellenceTraining for Excellence

Learning Function

Organization

Industry

Influence Influence

External Factors

Economic

Social

Political

Technological

Understanding the ContextUnderstanding the Context

6

Key Questions in Building ValueKey Questions in Building Value

• What is going on in the larger external environment?

• How does that impact my organization?

• What is the state of my organization?

• How does the learning function add strategic value to furthering the goals of my organization?

7

External EnvironmentExternal Environment

• What are some of the key drivers in the nonprofit/national service environment right now?

• How will those drivers have an impact on my organization (if they are not already)?

8

Nonprofit EnvironmentNonprofit EnvironmentOld Way of Thinking About Nonprofits:

– Program Replication as means of expanding social impact (1980’s)

– Building organizational capacity to deliver programs more efficiently (1990’s)

New Way of Thinking About Nonprofits:– Nonprofits as catalytic agents of change

Crutchfield, L. R. and McLeod Grant, H.

9

Myth bustersMyth busters

• Myth 1: Perfect management

• Myth 2: Brand name awareness

• Myth 3: A breakthrough new idea

• Myth 4: Textbook mission statements

• Myth 5: High ratings on conventional metrics

• Myth 6: Large budgets

10

Six Practices of High-impact Six Practices of High-impact NonprofitsNonprofits

1. Advocate and Serve

2. Make markets work

3. Inspire evangelists

4. Nurture nonprofit networks

5. Master the art of adaptation

6. Share Leadership

11

Organizational FrameworkOrganizational Framework

12

National Service EnvironmentNational Service Environment

• Serve America Act

• Social innovation

• Call to Service

• Expand

• Measure/results

• Compliance

• Others?

13

Establishing ValueEstablishing Value

Develop a Business Model for the Learning Function

“The learning function must have a business model that aligns resources to the priority

goals of the larger organization.”

ASTD, Managing the Learning Function

14

Keys to Establishing a Business Keys to Establishing a Business ModelModel

• How is the learning function funded? Who are your partners/sponsors?

• Who are your clients and what is your relationship to them?

• What products and services do you offer?• What criteria will be used to judge your value?

15

Needs AssessmentsNeeds Assessments• Needs-based approach (identify

performance gaps based on assessment of knowledge)

• Wants-based approach (what do clients say they want/need?)

• Results-based approach (identify learner goals based on business needs/goals and identify appropriate measures)

16

Measuring ValueMeasuring Value

Traditional Measures

• # of people trained/served

• # of trainings offered/hours of delivery

• Participant reaction surveys

New Learning Measures

• Increase in a business goal (i.e. %age increase in member retention, new applicants, programs making match, or reduced # of audit findings).

17

Taking It Home

Please find the worksheets on your table. Take 10 minutes to work through the questions and then find a partner at your table to share your business plan. Spend the next 15 minutes sharing your plans with each other and providing constructive feedback. At the end of the time we will ask for one or two pairs to share their plans.

18

How Can We Best Support You?How Can We Best Support You?

How can the Corporation best support you in the development and execution of your learning function business plans?

19

Thank you for your good suggestions and feedback!