One of the most important decisions a company can make is when it decides what Learning Management System (LMS) or Learning Content Management System (LCMS) it will use. Once in place, the LMS or LCMS will store and deliver content that will be used to train employees and hopefully make the company more productive. So how does a company decide which system is best for them and their needs? Good question, let's look at some tips from those who have experience and/or expertise in the field of LMS procurement.
When it comes to selecting a LMS, Parkin (2005) suggests to "not think in terms of LMS functionality, but in terms of process: what do you want to do, who is going to do it, how is it going to work." One of the contributing "tipsters" in the e-Learning Guild's 382 Tips on the Selection of an LMS or LCMS (2007) suggests to determine what you want your LMS to do before searching for or selecting an LMS. After researching, and researching, and researching all of the company's needs, next is to develop a framework for evaluation of alternative systems. This is an important step, because it allows you to take control of the “demo process” and provides you with the right questions to ask. Approaching an evaluation framework can be as simple as taking a typical day in the life of a user and then have the vendors explain in detail how their LMS will offer a solution (Parkin, 2005). Overall the consensus was to make sure you do your homework before ever even thinking about looking for a vendor and start the buying process.
Once a company has a detailed outline of what they want the LMS to do, another step in the process would be to set up a Request for Proposal (RFP). Basically the function of an RFP is to garner bids from prospective vendors that allows them to pitch their products to the company who is looking for a LMS. Mhay and Calum (2008) state effective RFPs typically reflect the strategy and short/long-term business objectives, providing detailed insight upon which suppliers will be able to offer a matching perspective. Succinctly put, a company will decide which system will work the best for their needs.
These are only two small steps in a lengthy and complicated process of choosing the correct LMS/LCMS for your company. The main point I came away with from the readings was that there is no such thing as to much research and to quote Parkin (2005 again, "[do] not allow the LMS to define your learning processes, nor to make its selection the starting point of your strategy development, nor to assume that any LMS is adequate to manage the totality of the learning that might take place." INn other words, technology is great when it is used by the right people, in the right context, and with the correct system in place.
e-Learning Guild's 382 Tips on the Selection of an LMS or LCMS. (2007).
Mhay, S. & Calum, C. (2008). Request for… procurement processes (RFT RFQ RFP
RFI). Retrieved July 24, 2010 from http://www.negotiations.com/articles/
procurement-terms/
Parkin, G. (2005). The LMS selection process in a nutshell. Retrieved July 24, 2010
from http://parkinslot.blogspot.com/2005/04/lms-selection-process-in-nutshell.html
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