The Role of the LMS in the Modern Performance Ecosystem

Since the mid-1990s, learning management systems (LMSs) havebeen ubiquitous in business, academia, and government. Although some think contemporarytrends such as informallearning are triggeringthe demise of the LMS, Steve Foreman, in his book TheLMS Guidebook: Learning Management Systems Demystified(Association for Talent Development, 2017), discusses the role of the LMS in themodern performance ecosystem.

Foreman is a consultant and principal at InfoMedia Designs.A recognized LMS authority, he has helped many organizations evaluate, select,implement, and operate learning management systems. In a recently published GuildResearch report, Trendsin Learning Technology, he examined how L&D is integratingnewer technologies into existing learning platforms.

Despite numerous challenges, Foreman insists that the LMS isstill a necessary partner. “People have been writing stories about the death ofthe LMS for many years. The LMS is no longer the dominant technology, but it’sstill a critical technology for learning and development,” he tells Learning Solutions.

Part of the reason is that the LMS is unrivaled when itcomes to handling courses. “Many L&D organizations are well-oiled machinesfor producing courses, and they need an LMS to deliver and track those courses,”Foreman says. “The LMS is here to stay.”

The LMS Guidebook: Learning Management Systems Demystified

Foreman makes a compelling case for the learning managementsystem in his book. Financially, he notes that organizations are still bullish onthem. “A 2016 study by MarketsandMarkets estimated the LMS market to have beenworth $5.22 billion in 2016 and forecasts that it will grow to $15.72 billionby 2021,” he states.

The industry has been flooded with new products, which canbe confusing for buyers. Foreman’s primary motivation for writing the book isto help L&D professionals successfully navigate what has become a verycomplex topic.

“I’ve been working in this field for many years and havefound that there is a lot of confusion in the marketplace,” Foreman says. “Idid a surveywith The eLearning Guild on learning management system evaluationselection several years ago, and I was surprised to find out that someorganizations weren’t sure what an LMS was.”

He explains that there are three distinct types of LMSproducts, boasting different features, functionalities, and use models. “Thereare LMS products that work as virtual classrooms, or an extension of thephysical classroom where students can meet online with their instructor. Thereare the types of LMS products that corporations tend to use where they have acatalog of courses employees can take. And then there are LMS products withbuilt-in authoring tools to create content,” he says.

Foreman’s comprehensive guidebook begins with the basics. Hedefines what an LMS is and how it works. He describes the differences betweencorporate, academic, and learning content management systems, and compares an LMSto an LRS (learning record store.) He discusses commercial versus open sourceLMS products, delving into the pros and cons of each.

Foreman then shares best practices for selecting, implementing,and operating an LMS, clarifying industry standards and providing guidelines.He offers practical information about how to integrate a new LMS with othersystems and how to properly migrate legacy data. Finally, he touches upon the futureof the LMS, illuminating the important role it plays in a modern learning andperformance ecosystem. The book contains two glossaries—one highlightingtechnical terms for IT personnel, and another featuring jargon geared moretowards L&D professionals.

Who can benefit from this book?

As an independent and respected industry voice, Foreman offersunbiased opinions on systems—noting that some organizations may not require anLMS at all. Learning professionals dipping their toes into the LMS market forthe first time will find The LMSGuidebook essential, as will veterans who may be switching platforms forthe third or fourth time and don’t want to repeat past mistakes. It will obviouslyappeal to L&D managers and administrators tasked with selecting andimplementing a learning management system; however, IT professionals will also findit useful because Foreman—a tech expert—addresses the manytechnical issues that may emerge whendeploying a new LMS. Finally, the industry is changing, and there is growingconsolidation in the LMS marketplace. As such, L&D executives interested inROI and best practices for LMS strategy will find the book intriguing.

“While choosing and implementing a learningmanagement system is certainly not a life or death situation, your decisionsand actions along the way (and the consequences) often make the process seemlike one,” writes industry pundit Marc Rosenberg in the book’s foreword, notingthat The LMS Guidebook can smooth theprocess.