Improving business process usually means learning new skills. Today’s guest post from Tricia Underwood covers modern trends in learning management.

Improving management skills is something every business professional needs to do - even those who think they know it all. This is a growing and ever-changing industry and there is never a time to stop learning management skills and methods. What are people doing now? What trends are playing out before us?

1. Meet Social Learning

Social learning is taking over the way people learn, well, virtually everything. This includes a worthwhile learning tool like a business performance management software. Numerous programs and applications are available online and as downloadable software to enable individuals to get the level of education necessary. This social learning management system, called LMS for short, integrates social learning features to allow both private and public communities to come together. This includes the use of forums, chats, shoutboxes, polls and blogs as well as typical learning methods, subject matter focused learning and more. Collaborative learning may be the task of the future.

2. Targeted Training

Another aspect that’s becoming important is targeted training. For example, a learning management system can enable professionals to select the highly targeted training necessary. Instead of obtaining just whatever is assigned, it provides an opportunity to learn what the individual needs. The benefits of a learning management system are numerous including improving productivity, enabling social learning, reducing risks and lowering administration costs.

3. Real World Applications

No matter if the education comes from social learning or a typical classroom, it is critical for the information to be transferable and acceptable in the real world. Everything from the examples to the modules taught must be information the learner can apply directly to his or her situation. Additionally, the learner must believe in the information. For that to occur, the information must be usable and sensible in today’s environment. Learning from a 10 year old textbook doesn’t cut it any longer. EagleTribune.com states that it is all about relevant content.

4. eLearning Is a Government Thing

Education is the single most important way of reducing poverty and violence and creating a strong economy. To do that, though, it is essential to find a way to reach farther. That’s were eLearning comes into play. Some governments are using eLearning to get the same benefits that businesses have had for years. According to Virtual-Strategy.com, for example, the Mexican government has worked to improve the lives of its citizens using a system by Dextro. The system is a custom eLearning platform that allows for the development of comprehensive learning and content management system that helps small businesses and micro-organizations, which make up as much as 52 percent of the country’s GDP, to succeed.

5. Going On Demand

Education must also be on demand for the student. How many professionals have time to drive to a facility to take a course? Rather, they could pull out their tablet computer, select the right apps and take the courses they need right then and there. This type of mobile learning is faster, newer and better because it provides a just in time solution - information is up to date and easily accessible. This makes it incredibly easy for those who need it to get that information when it works for them. In short, it makes learning more accessible even to the successful professional.

Management education will continue to grow and change. In many ways, it will continue to be more in demand as the competition for being more successful continues to increase. Individuals who want to be successful must have the most up to date education and training. With these methods, management education is easier to obtain than ever and it is more up to date than ever before, too.

Tricia studied journalism and fell in love with the entertainment sector. She is never seen without her camera, her iPhone (back-up camera!), or her pug.