Outstanding E-Learning
Acción International case study
ACCIÓN International Launches Leadership Development eLearning Course
Industry - Nonprofit microfinance
Challenge - Find a cost-effective way to deliver a successful leadership development program to staff members and partners on four continents.
Solution - An eLearning course developed by Monarch Media that can be delivered over the Internet and on CD-ROM
Key Benefits
- Users can learn asynchronously, taking the training at the time and place most convenient to them.
- Cost savings thanks to reduced international travel requirements for trainers.
- Ideal for a blended learning environment in which additional educational materials can be provided via emails, webinars, and in-person trainings.
- Allows ACCIÓN to reach all staff members instead of a smaller subset of employees.
- Learners can permanently access all materials and have the flexibility to revisit applicable information when faced with on-the-job challenges.
Overview
ACCIÓN International was founded in 1961 to promote international economic development and alleviate global poverty. Since 1973, the organization has focused on microfinance, providing small loans to tiny businesses founded and run by individuals living in poverty.
Because they often lack substantial collateral and only need to borrow small amounts of money, traditional banks have generally refused to lend to these business owners. Therefore, their only option has been loan sharks who charge exorbitant interest rates. ACCIÓN and its partners are changing this dynamic by offering an alternative source of funds, small loans (as little as $100) at commercial interest rates provided to micro-entrepreneurs for investing in and growing their businesses.
In 2009, ACCIÓN was operating on four continents and in 25 countries. With its partners it served 3.3 million active borrowers.
Training Challenges
ACCIÓN’s leadership development program consists of 10 modules that have traditionally been delivered via in-person, small group training sessions. They are a critical part of promoting the organization’s culture and identity internally. They help employees grow a shared sense of mission, vision, and values, as well as define and practice good leadership skills.
As a global organization, however, cost and time constraints have made it difficult for Lynne Curran, who heads ACCIÓN’s human resources and training department, to provide the leadership development program to everyone in a timely manner. “Our biggest challenge is reaching remote staff,” she says. “We’ve only been able to present the first module in person to about a third of the organization.”