The Approach

The Challenge: Strategic Alignment

Companies want to manage their investments in talent as methodically as they manage their other investments.They look to L&D to lead the charge. Yet many business leaders feel that L&D falls short.

What holds us back?

We believe that most L&D organizations have adequate core capabilities to create and deliver learning solutions. For most, what is most important to improve is their ability to focus those core capabilities, that is, to align the work they do to what is vital to their business. They must improve strategic alignment.

A2B tackles the strategic alignment challenge through establishing a focus, promoting a unique mindset and, most importantly, offering a concrete methodology..

Focus

The 80/20 Rule (aka the "Rule of the Vital Few") simply says that when there is a large group, most of the impact from the group usually comes from a few members. Investments in learning are no different. There are many possible investments a company can make in learning. But a small number will have the largest impact on business results.

A2B enables companies to apply the 80/20 rule to managing learning investments. That is, A2B shows how to concretely identify specific gaps in a company's ability to execute, prioritizing them, define measures for success, and then target talent investments at the priorities which achieve success.

Mindset

Many L&D organizations adopt a "service mindset" in which they strive mightily to meet needs presented to them by the business. Providing great service is important ... but it is not sufficient.

A2B asks L&D organizations to take an "investment management mindset" to help their companies sort through the many opportunities they face to invest in talent.

This investment mindset is different than typically found in L&D staff. We suggest that L&D organizations identify a few "Business Engagement Managers" who embody this mindset and lead the charge for strategic alignment.

Methodology

L&D organizations are routinely exhorted to better align to business. But just how can they do this?

Few L&D organizations have a clear and concrete methodology for generating strategic alignment. A2B provides such methodology which lays out how L&D can engage with the business to accomplish strategic alignment.