Reasons e-learning projects fail

Although the authors have given a large list of potential e-learning failures, two really struck me as very likely to quickly lead to failure of the e-learning system.  Failure to gain long-term, on-going support from management and failure to perform meaningful reviews of e-learning development at the end of each project to assure continuous process improvement for subsequent e-learning projects struck me as the most likely to have serious implications for failure of current and future e-learning initiatives.  As a professional quality manager, many of the things that will lead to a failure of a quality system within an organization will also lead to the failures of other systems.  The e-learning system is no exception.

There may be a reason why “Failure to gain long-term, on-going support from management” was listed as #1.  In any instance, lack of management support will ultimately result in funding and resources being reduced or removed from the system.  Usually, the lack of support comes from a lack of understanding of the system and a manager must inform and educate all about the benefits of the e-learning system.  “Failure to perform meaningful reviews of e-learning development at the end of each project to assure continuous process improvement for subsequent e-learning projects” is a sad but all too common situation.  Many instructors and managers can be over burdened with needs from all areas of their work.  Instead of looking at what the areas of opportunity to make the system more robust and meaningful, they can “rest on their laurels” and assume their system is fine.

In both cases, employee involvement at all levels will reap rewards.  In addition to funding and better understanding, these actions will also help buy-in and engagement in the programs, leading to even more successful training!