It’s Time to Stop Ignoring Employee Knowledge Gaps

Imagine someone trying to ride a bike without the knowledge and understanding of how to use the brakes. While the individual may be attempting to master the skill of biking, doing so with a knowledge gap on how to stop the bike makes the task nearly impossible (and pretty dangerous).

The same can be applied to the Learning and Development of employees.

Just because all of the eLearning modules have been completed and the tests have been passed doesn’t mean the employee has gained the knowledge they need for success. What about the series of communication questions that were answered wrong? How are these knowledge gaps addressed after the learner gets a “completed” check mark at the end of a lesson?

Usually, they aren’t.

As long as the learner passes the course, the questions that were answered wrong are usually brushed under the rug. But weren’t they put in the training for a reason?

Down the road, knowledge gaps that go unaddressed cause employees to work below their set expectations. This means that not only does the learner lack some of the key knowledge they need to be successful in their role, they are also likely unable to develop the skills associated with that knowledge! The problem with the traditional LMS is that it isn’t capable of identifying knowledge gaps and delegating training specific to those areas of weakness.

In order for learners to get the most out of their training experiences, a true talent development platform must not only identify these knowledge gaps, but also provide learners with additional materials to help close the gap. This doesn’t always mean more eLearning courses! Tools like whitepapers, infographics and videos should be provided to learners when knowledge gaps exist.

While effective employee development may take a vast array of tools and processes, having a platform that supports customized employee development opportunities is crucial. If your organization is ready to start managing employee knowledge gaps to better develop your people, check out Expectancy Learning.

Share this Post

Step 1 of 4