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Corporate training is part and parcel of talent development in organizations. However, the escalating cost of doing business and economic uncertainties surrounding global markets are forcing some companies to reduce costs to maintain their bottom line. As expenses relating to employee training and development rarely have an immediate impact on business operations, executive management often see such expense as one that can be reduced substantially if the need arises. From the employees’ perspective, a reduction in training budget is seen as a blow to staff benefits. It can also be taken as a signal of deteriorating business conditions and can reduce employee morale. Longenecker and Fink (2014) pointed out that talented managers are more likely to leave an organization if training and development opportunities for growth are lacking.
One way that organizations can offer a greater level of development opportunities at lower cost is through the use of online learning platforms. There is increasing interest in the use of massive open online courses (MOOCs), which are, in general, web-based courses that can be targeted to an unlimited number of participants. These courses can be designed by anyone and made available to the public or designated audiences on dedicated MOOC providers’ websites.
Research shows that there is an increase in corporate awareness of MOOCs. A 2014 study by consulting firm, Deloitte, found that two-third of companies in its global survey agree that the MOOC trend is becoming more important and relevant (Deloitte University Press, 2014). However, there is still a lack of research on the practices of MOOCs (Liyanagunawardena et al., 2013), which could be the reason why some firms are still not convinced about MOOC adoption. This article briefly summarizes how MOOCs are being used by some organizations, sets out the advantages and disadvantages of their use and, for organizations planning to implement MOOCs, flags some key issues worthy of paying attention to.
Organizations currently using MOOCs
In one particular study carried out in 2013 with 195 corporate...