So I guess I have the LMS blues. I’m coming to what should be the final stretch of getting the LMS functioning. I should have access to a new version of the system. I should have several courses on it for users to try out. I should have our HR system talking to our Active Directory system, talking to the LMS and functioning. I should have a pilot group all set ready to give it all a try. I should feel like things are coming together.
BUT I DON’T.
I, like most of you, feel completely swamped by the every day tasks that come my way. The barrage of emails, the phone calls, and the drop-ins. They are all taking their toll and time away from me being able to concentrate on the tasks at hand. Getting the LMS running.
I’m in a bit of a panic there in that I’m not convinced the people that can (IT) have been able to get the HR system to have all the fields populated that should be populated so that we know who reports to whom instead of who gets paid by whom. Even if that is completed, I’m not sure our Active Directory is picking it up yet. However, as B.J. Schone has told me many times….always have an IT buddy and I think Ryan is mine. I gave him some blank discs today…he said he can get the AD up to speed in no time. So I hope it works, I just have no control or authority to say “make it happen”.
As I said the drop-ins have been a bit overwhelming so I don’t know if the new system is ready for me to try out or not. When I say new I mean a few tweaks here and there. But the vendor’s idea of a pilot group and my idea are off by about 60 people. I don’t want to test the system and see if it works and functions. It should upon purchase. I do want to have a small representation of various users give it a go and tell me if they can easily navigate and find what they need, register, take a course. If they can’t then perhaps some tweaks, but more likely change the training to address the gap.
Finally the time line. According to the vendor I should have everything in place, oh let me see, yesterday. Doesn’t work like that. Most of the elearning people I have connected with are departments of one. How many of us have time to concentrate on one thing either? Don’t get me started if you are in health care. My colleagues here in Ontario would definitely know that most of us wear 2, 3, and sometimes 4 different hats. Each of those have their own priorities as well and let’s not talk about where our bosses think our priorities should start.
Okay. I feel better, well at least feel it’s off my chest. Thanks for the rant. I think I’ve covered a few concerns I hope you’ll concern if you go through an implementation.
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Am replying to offer my full sympathy – and to let you know you are not alone. I am in similar circumstances, implementing an LMS across, not just my healthcare service, but a whole region of healthcare services (about 26 agencies). And I don’t have the “authority” to demand anything….
Part of our project is the collaborative development of content for our “region”…do you think I can even get that far!?!
As someone asked me yesterday when I was whinging about getting nowhere in a hurry “who is your sponsor”. Without a sponsor, who is there to push the project along. Without a sponsor, I am but a “pest” rather than actively managing the project. And I was reminded, that while I am “responsible” for the outcomes, I am not “accountable” for them. Not sure who is though…
Think I am suffering LMS blues too!!!
Thank you back Tracey. It’s always good to know you aren’t the only one struggling. Of course there have been many before us as well going through this process.
You are very right in having a sponsor to help push things along. It is most likely a great point that I haven’t mention really at all. I know the overall project had a sponsor, but once the intranet and document management got up and running the LMS has tended to just land only in my lap. Perhaps I need to refresh the sponsors memory on the project and where I am at. Thank you for this reminder.
I’m guessing that you are probably all too familiar with knowing that in healthcare getting the ear of someone who is at the level of being a sponsor is difficult enough. They are so busy with their “many hats” and patient related projects. I guess pushing more and voicing more that the LMS can only help staff to better deliver quality care is the way to go.
We’re going to have to get a blues singer to write us a song for sure.