How to Decide Whether to Insource or Outsource Elearning Development?

I recently got a query on LinkedIn about needing help with decision between insourcing and outsourcing elearning content development. " I have a small request - is there a way to get a ball-park figure to develop one hour of e-learning content in India using rapid development software such as Articulate Studio/Storyline? We have been doing e-learning development in house and our new VP of HR wants to consider the possibility of outsourcing it. I am in the process of doing a cost-benefit analysis and so, need this information. I…

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Indian Elearning Industry Size

I came across a post on Indian elearning industry size. According to this company’s research, the Indian elearning industry grew at approximately 18% CAGR since 2009. Nearly a third of elearning companies in India are companies with headcount less than 10. Nearly 78% are companies with headcount less than 50.A near zero entry level barrier for someone to start elearning company would explain the growth in companies with limited headcount. Almost anyone with some experience and basic hardware now claims to be an elearning company. It’s like the training industry…

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What Kept Training Managers Awake in 2012?

So what kept training managers awake during 2012? What challenges they have been facing? During last year I was fortunate enough to be in touch with training managers of various companies in India. While not statistically conclusive, here are some general trends I noticed from my various conversations.Cost: Almost all training managers are pressurized to show some cost savings. Mostly this is resulting in passing on pressure to reduce costs on their training vendors. Cost seems to be their single biggest challenge these days.Uncertain Business Environment: There’s a constant challenge…

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The More Things Change, The More They Remain The Same

This year I completed 20 years in the learning and development industry. As I reflect back, some things just remain the same, especially in elearning. Even today when I tell someone that I develop elearning, I get the “Oh that’s an upcoming industry”. Even after 20 years, elearning is still an upcoming industry!!!Elearning development continues to be riddled with the same questions over the years with no right answers. Many years ago, when I was learning Instructional Design (ID), one of the mentors said the full form of ID is…

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My Interview in IDConnect

Rupa Rajagopalan has been instrumental in running the Instructional Designers Community of India for the last few years along with some other enthusiastic members of the profession. As part of IDCI, Rupa edits a newsletter IDConnect. Rupa interviewed me for the second issue of the newsletter. You can view the complete newsletter on the IDCI community site. I am reproducing my interview here.The InterviewYou have been conducting salary surveys for the past 2 years. Have salary levels for Instructional Designers in India improved? What are the current trends in salary?It’s…

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Progress so far – Unofficial Salary Survey 2010

It’s been a slow start to the 2010 Unofficial Salary Survey of eLearning, Content Development and Training jobs. You can now view the responses by following the Responses link.Some highlights so far:Functions that have participated are Instructional Designers (33%) and Technology/Programmers (22%), followed by Project management (17%) and Graphics and Media (11%).Most participants have 10 years work experience (28%) followed by 5 and 3 years (11% each).So far the survey seems to be dominated by male responders (72%).Only 28% people switched jobs last year.Mostly people from elearning/training vendors have participated…

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Unofficial Salary Survey 2010

It’s time to launch the 2010 Unofficial Salary Survey for elearning, content development and training jobs in India. There's nothing official about this survey. The survey is not based on responses by companies but based on responses provided by you, the employee. This survey is not associated with any organization. The survey is anonymous.This survey is for you if you are an Instructional Designer, Content Developer, Technical Writer, Project Manager, Graphics designer, Flash Programmer, Content Integrator, Tester, Editor, Trainer, Training administrator, SME, or any other role involved in elearning, content…

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Innovation in Indian Learning Industry

Will Thalheimer wonders what is the state of innovation in the Indian learning and performance industry in his recent blog post. He comments on the NY Times report on India’s anxiety over the slow pace of innovation and wonders what the situation is in the learning industry. Will Thalheimer is a learning-and-performance consultant and researcher who specializes in helping clients build more effective learning interventions. I guess it depends on what we call innovation. No I am not getting into an academic debate on what is innovation, primarily because I…

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Agile Instructional Design Team Structures

I have been reading about agile development lately. One of the key components of agile development is team structuring. Typically in large organizations, content development teams are organized either as functional teams or as project teams with larger organizations typically having functional structures in place. Agile methodology suggests a more project structure. Teams work dedicatedly for the project, preferably located close to each other. Having seen both functional team structures and project team structures, I believe both structures have their inherent strengths. Advantage Project Teams Projects can be completed faster.…

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Now Featured on eLearningLearning.com

My post on blogs by learning professionals in India helped Tony Karrer identify some new blogs for his list of top blogs on workplace elearning. In the process, Learn and Lead is now a featured blog on Tony’s eLearningLearning.com site. eLearning Learning is a content aggregation site that serves to bring all of your favorite eLearning blogs together into one site. It is a hub that pulls together content from various members of the eLearning world and make it more easily accessible to people who are searching and/or who want…

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