Online training and learning consist of various aspects that help in delivering training effectively. Merely creating eLearning material, integrating the latest technology with your learning management system, picking up the best online instructor in town and timely assessments aren’t enough. After all, you need a professional expert or an experienced person who can act as an architect for your eLearning program. You need someone who can help you in delegating work, assignments, and projects and someone who can help you in executing even the most complex task. This is where the role of eLearning project manager pops up.
Through constructive supervision of the eLearning project manager, everything from designing to the deployment of the eLearning course, all can be done easily. A dedicated and responsible eLearning project manager can take your organization to the pinnacle. His decisions are detrimental to the success or downfall of an organization. From allocation of resources to management of budget, is all handled by the eLearning project manager.
After knowing the importance of the position, roles, and responsibilities of an eLearning project manager, let us now try to dig into what important skills he must possess.
5 important skills that an eLearning project manager must possess-
1. Planning and organizing-
Every eLearning project calls for proper planning. Planning provides a plan of action. It helps you to follow a step-by-step guide to reach goals. If there is no planning, then any mishappening or issue can mess up everything. The need for planning becomes more essential when you have a huge team, that needs guidance, leadership, and support.
If planning is important, then documenting and sharing the plans with the other team members is equally important. It ensures that everyone gets a clear-cut understanding and knowledge about the goals, timelines, and individual roles and responsibilities. It keeps any sort of misunderstanding or misinterpretation at bay.
Organizing skill is equally crucial. If an eLearning project manager is organized, he can easily communicate, collaborate and connect with the entire team and the clients.
2. Leadership –
Leadership quality is the most important skill that an eLearning project must possess. It helps in-
- Enforcing accountability and transparency
- Boosts employee’s morale and confidence
- Taking up the responsibility for any mishappenings
- Giving direction to the entire team
- Fostering strong and open communication
- Better decision making
- Creating a better organizational culture
- Bringing the entire organization under one roof
3. Communication-
If you’re planning something big for the organization, but are unable to communicate it properly then it is a complete waste of time. An eLearning project manager helps in building strong communication within and outside the organization.
For instance, running an employee training program is very difficult, especially when the employees are geographically dispersed. In that case, virtual meetings, webinars, or web conferences if organized by the eLearning project manager, can stimulate a sense of belongingness and effective communication between the entire organization. Clear, concise, and consistent communication will wipe off confusion and miscommunication.
An eLearning project manager plays a very important role in establishing communication by ensuring that-
- Everyone’s voice is being heard
- Everyone asks plenty of questions
- A proper charter is put in place that outlines how everyone should communicate with each other
4. Resource allocation and management-
The eLearning project manager must ensure that all the resources are allocated and managed effectively. After all, during the course of the eLearning project or training, unwanted costs may crop up anytime. The eLearning project manager must ensure that the budget is properly laid down, discussed, and open to suggestions from others. He must ensure the budget is rightly utilized and there is no diversion of funds. He must create a contingency plan and fund that can be helpful if any problem arises in the future that demands spending of some extra money.
Apart from this, he should ensure that human resource management is in place. The tasks and responsibilities should be delegated to the employees based on their skills and experience.
5. Time management-
Time management is the key to success. An eLearning project manager should make sure that the employees finish their eLearning courses on time, products or services are delivered to the clients on time and all the other deadlines are met ahead of time.
The eLearning project manager must possess this skill because it helps in
- Prioritizing tasks
- Meeting deadlines
- Avoiding delays
- Building goodwill and relationships
If the eLearning project manager sets up realistic goals, then surely everything can be accomplished easily and that too on time.
Conclusion-
The eLearning project manager’s role is worth exemplifying. He leads the organization when it is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. He helps your organization grow and prosper. He helps in delivering the work on time without compromising on quality. Hence, it’s high time that organization starts acknowledging the responsibility of the eLearning project manager. The aforementioned skills are a must to possess to facilitate effective learning and training.
