The Importance of 'Buy-In' of Top Level Management at the Beginning of Any E-Learning Program

The Importance of 'Buy-In' of Top Level Management at the Beginning of Any E-Learning Program

Introduction

Innovation will be central to both top-line growth and profitability. Among the many factors that influence a company's ability to innovate successfully and competitively, the resilience of its innovation organization is perhaps the most important” (Bordia, et al., 2005, p. 9). Changes are to be initiated from the top level. It is essential for senior leadership and top management to lie down and communicate the mission and the vision of the organization, along with communicating the need for change. There has to be practical understanding of what are the strategies that can be leveraged under the present culture of the organization and what are the changes that are to be made for implementing new strategies (Bordia, Kronenberg & Neely, 2005; Edmonds, 2001). E-learning is doubtful to be successful without the support from the executive level. The purpose of this essay is to reflect the importance of top management buy-in at the beginning of the implementation of an e-learning program.

Discussion

During implementing any new strategy, it is effortless to gain agreements from people, if the people who are agreeing with the new strategy are not to invest any money, time, or energy. It was indicated by Rosenberg (2001) that without the implicit support from at least an executive can lead any strategy to failure. The dedication a top level management has for any strategy is directed in (a) fore-fronting the proposal with individuals who have skills and time to promote it further, (b) appropriating essential financial support for formulation and maintenance, (c) safeguarding the proposal while budget cuts, (d) engaging and engrossing oneself in the delivery and implementation of the proposal, (e) individually taking part in strategic decisions, (f) informing other executives about the comings and goings and development, (g) holding suitable parties responsible for milestones, timelines, and deliveries, and (h) focusing on amplification of the strategy (Rosenberg, 2001). Level of dedication and commitment is the core ingredient for the support of the e-learning strategy, without which the foundation would be shaky. Without the firm support and strong foundation the flood of changes and stress of day to day operations are likely to erode support and disintegrate the proposal and plan before the its delivery of vision and promise. However, it is essential for the organization to procure at least an executive who will invest his skills, time, and financial resources for making the strategy implemented effectively and succeed in its motive.

Enrolling Executives in the Cause

The eventual goal of the e-learning program is to enable learning in the organization and making learning synonymous and ubiquitous with the performance of individuals. As the learning program would succeed more of the other executive teams, middle managers, frontline managers, and employees would favor the learning, until the point would come that leaning world transcend in the entire organization (CIO Council, 2002). There would be individual at executive ...