Enterprise Learning within HCM vs ELM Stand-Alone

PeopleSoft clients often ask about implementing the ELM module – which stands for Enterprise Learning Management. Giving them an answer is not that simple because there are two products with the same name. I then have to ask “Which ELM do you mean?”

1.     Enterprise Learning – which is part of the HCM suite and used to be called ‘Training Administration’ and referred to by Oracle as “Enterprise Learning Management” within their own documentation

2.     Enterprise Learning Management – a stand-alone module that incorporates components of the HCM functionality but does a lot more

When you license the HCM suite and/or the ELM product, you need to be sure of what you are buying. Hopefully, the following description will help you understand the difference.

Enterprise Learning within HCM

For HCM users, whose main concern is with employee training, the Enterprise Learning module found in the HCM suite is likely all that you will need. It can do the following and more:

§  Define training courses

§  Track employee completion of training courses

§  Manage training class schedules and enrollment

§  Print class rosters and materials

§  Allow employees and managers to request training and enroll on-line with waitlists if class is full

§  Define training programs – curriculum that can be attached to certain jobs and certifications

§  Define training course pre-requisites

§  Define training budgets – by department (note: does not work with financial system)

§  Track all aspects of training classes such as instructors and their qualifications, equipment, classrooms, books, etc.

§  Tie training to competencies and employee goals for performance reviews

§  Track employee testing

§  Enable students to give feedback on training through evaluations

§  Perform analysis on training costs

You can get as elaborate as you wish, but you can also do just the first two items on the above list. The simple approach is to record employee training and completion date of courses.

If you want to implement Enterprise Learning and are overwhelmed by the size of the effort or the long list of functionality and features, I suggest you start with the first two. You can use the list of courses and employee training history to build on when you’re ready for more and there will be no re-work or wasted effort.

ELM Stand-Alone (HCM sold separately – batteries not included)

The Stand-Alone version of ELM does everything the HCM version does but is more student focused. This module allows not only managing courses and class schedules but also the ability to have students launch on-line courses and web-casts, take tests on-line and integrate with external training delivery methods to make a complete training delivery system to go beyond employee training management.

It is the integration with training delivery tools that makes this version different from the module embedded in the HCM product suite. Other software may be required based on your needs.

Understanding Your Requirements

Before exploring the implementation of Enterprise Learning in any form, ask yourself these basic questions:

§  Do we want a tool to conduct training or track training history?

§  If the answer is ‘conduct training’ then the stand-alone ELM is what you want.

§  If the answer is ‘track training’ and you own the HCM version that is what you want.

§  Do we want to train employees or customers?

§  If ‘customers’ then the stand-alone ELM product is what you want.

§  If ‘employees’ then most likely the HCM version will suffice.

§  Do we want to simply track training history or set up class schedules and have employees and managers enroll on-line? Basically ‘Track’ training vs. ‘Manage’ training.

§  Both answers mean the HCM product will do the job but the extent of the implementation effort and day-to-day maintenance will be a bit larger for managing training rather than just tracking.

§  Do we want training information integrated with performance and profile modules?

If the answer is yes, you are already HCM customers and want training reflected in employee data, goals and performance monitoring. This also makes the implementation effort a bit larger but the good news is that Oracle has made this integration easier in recent versions.