What is Accidental Learning?
This is when accidental learning begins. We have all experienced it. You’re working with a colleague whose split screen view of Outlook you have never seen before and say. “How convenient!”. You suddenly realize you have been needlessly frustrated for months. Your colleague’s instruction was a great resource but unfortunately, the event was accidental.
We’re interacting with more and more technology in our business and personal daily activity. In fact, we touch about 10 different technologies in a typical workday. Some examples would include our smartphone apps, CRM, Helpdesk ticketing, MS 365, and video conferencing, We are creatures of habit when adopting new tools, software or feature upgrades. We receive a new tool – CRM for instance – and try to use it just like on the old software. Being pressed for time we defer learning newer, useful features until “later or never.” See yourself in this picture yet?
What is the impact of Accidental Learning on technology or software investments? Companies are caught in an old paradigm of learning practices that are 50 plus years old. The knowledge and science of how our brains learn and how we create new habits have changed dramatically in the last 20 years. It is like moving from horses to horsepower. The goal of learning is simple – user adoption. Using proven, ineffective learning practices leads to failed user adoption.
Why employee adoption falls short
- Overwhelmed by too much information in a 1 hour or 1-day session, we don’t retain 80% of what is taught.
- Training is inconvenient, too long, or cuts into our work schedule so we avoid it
- Pressing tasks usually distract us from taking the time to learn new functions
- Self-serve portals are used by only 15% of employees
- If you’re not even aware of a feature you don’t know to learn about it either
The Cost of Failed Adoption
Failed technology adoption is a major factor in why technology investments don’t live up to expectations. Application vendors readily admit that achieving more than 30% adoption is a rare occurrence. Subscribing to 1,000 licenses at $30/month is really costing you $95/ user of $1,200/year. If you think it’s not happening in your environment, think again. Check your own system transaction counts and you may be shocked.
Learn about the new science and human behaviors that can change the results in your organization. Go to https://fivel.ca/why-employees-resist-change/ to understand the underlying reasons why employees resist change.
Final thought: Learning is an event, adoption is an outcome
Author: John Breakey (john.breakey@fivel.ca) Fivel leverages its extensive experience with technology deployments with its deep insights into neurological and behavioral sciences to accelerate employee engagement and project outcomes. Is it time for you to discover new ways to solve old problems?