IEDP Survey Reveals Senior Executives are Open to Using New Learning Technologies and Would Benefit from Understanding Options

Survey Reveals Executives Are Receptive to Online Learning

NASHUA, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Skillsoft today announced the results of a survey that reveals the vast majority of senior executives are open to using technology in a development context, but they lack an understanding of the current online learning options that are available to them. The survey was conducted by IEDP, an organization that publishes information for leaders and leadership development professionals, focusing on the latest developments, ideas and best practices being delivered by the world's premier business schools and consultancies, with assistance from Skillsoft, Deloitte, Cranfield University and Wharton Executive Education. The survey, which assesses the value of online learning for executive leadership development, also pointed to a need for relevant content from online learning providers. Skillsoft, a pioneer in the field of learning with a long history of innovation, provides cloud based learning solutions for its customers worldwide, ranging from global enterprises, government, and education to mid-sized and small businesses.

“We are proud to support IEDP in this important research and are pleased that executives are open and receptive to using online learning technologies for their development”

According to the survey, more than 60 percent of executives spent more than 50 percent of their day using a computer or mobile device and the vast majority found engaging and familiarizing with new technologies to be “interesting and worthwhile.” However, only 14 percent of respondents felt they had a good understanding of what online learning products were currently available to executives, with 76 percent indicating they had moderate or limited knowledge and 10 percent having no current knowledge.

The survey was conducted between May 21 and June 26, 2012 and involved 187 senior executives and heads of leadership development at leading global companies. Respondents came from a wide range of sectors including education, banking/finance/professional services, consulting, manufacturing, government/public sector, life sciences/healthcare and others.

“We are proud to support IEDP in this important research and are pleased that executives are open and receptive to using online learning technologies for their development,” said John Ambrose, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Corporate Development and Emerging Business, Skillsoft. “HR and learning and development staff need to work together to introduce executives to the rich set of online learning solutions that are available. At Skillsoft, we provide the relevant content in flexible formats that allows leaders at all levels to grow and develop their organizations.”

The survey is a follow up to the IEDP/Deloitte Leadership Learning Survey conducted in September 2011. The preceding study explored executives’ use of learning modalities and inspired additional research to explore executive attitudes toward online learning.

“The fact that executives view sharing ideas, best practices and business knowledge as important aspects of executive development and that elearning platforms are not much different, possibly better, than traditional methods is good news for elearning as a medium,” said Roderick Millar, Co-Founder and Managing Editor, IEDP. “Providers need to ensure that their content is of the highest quality, and that interactions are facilitated in an effective way while also communicating the benefits that online learning technologies can achieve.”

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A detailed summary of the findings was published in Developing Leaders Magazine and is available at http://www.iedp.com/Pages/DocumentManager/Perceptions%20of%20Online%20Leadership%20Development.pdf.

IEDP will publish additional content on the area of senior executive learning in the coming months based on the results of this survey.

About Skillsoft

Skillsoft is a pioneer in the field of learning with a long history of innovation. Skillsoft provides cloud based learning solutions for its customers worldwide, ranging from global enterprises, government, and education to mid-sized and small businesses. Skillsoft's customer support teams draw on a wealth of in-house experience and a comprehensive learning e-library to develop off-the-shelf and custom learning programs tailored to cost-effectively meet customer needs. Skillsoft's courses, books and videos have been developed by industry leading learning experts to ensure that they maximize business skills, performance, and talent development.

Skillsoft currently serves over 5,000 customers and more than 13,000,000 learners around the world. Skillsoft is on the web at www.skillsoft.com.

Skillsoft courseware content described herein is for information purposes only and is subject to change without notice. Skillsoft has no obligation or commitment to develop or deliver any future release, upgrade, feature, enhancement or function described in this press release except as specifically set forth in a written agreement.

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