Mistakes are part of life, but ideally when implementing an LMS, they should be few and far between. Developing a solid understanding of these mistakes will ensure you have a fighting chance to sidestep or mitigate them. For more content like this, check out the full Acorn Resources blog: https://acornlms.com/resources

1. LMS Problems
Common and not-so-common ones to try and avoid

2. What are LMS problems?
Mistakes are part of life, but ideally when procuring an LMS, they
should be few and far between.
Typically, mistakes fall under 3 distinct categories: technical issues,
usability issues or decision-making missteps. Consider the following
11 common and not-so-common problems organisations will want to
try and mitigate.

3. The 11
Problems

4. The Complexity of Code
Issue: An LMS requires constant attention. If internal teams or
vendors can’t handle the workload, issues will soon follow.
Potential Solutions: Adjust expectations to what the vendor or IT
team can actually do. Ensure a vendor’s capabilities are fully
researched before signing on.

5. Scope Creep
Issue: This is when a project’s goals outpace a team’s capacity while said
project is still in progress. It usually starts with small adjustments on the
development side that balloon out and disrupt timelines.
Potential Solutions: Ensure there’s a solid understanding of timeframes
and roadmaps on both sides.

6. Lack of Support
Issue: A wide array of problems rooted in code (like bugs) can arise
once underway with an LMS.
Potential Solutions: Good technical support is key. Ensure internal
teams can handle all the support requests. For vendor’s – read reviews,
get a feel for their transparency and assess their technical knowledge.

7. Confusing Design
Issue: Bad and confusing design will become a hindrance to learners
and cause them to check out.
Potential Solutions: Make sure an LMS delivers when trialling it.
Confirm it’s easy to navigate and requires few clicks to get around.

8. Uninspiring Courses
Issue: Boring courses = bored learners = lack of engagement = poor
investment. If content is a chore, learners will check out.
Potential Solutions: Things like microlearning, social learning and
personalised learning pathways can help avoid this. None of those
matter, however, if the LMS can’t accommodate them.

9. Not Doing A Needs Analysis
Issue: Without clear goals in mind, organisations can’t determine
what features and functionality are the best fit.
Potential Solutions: Determine the motivation for both an
organisation and its users. Additionally, consider skills gaps,
available resources, LMS maintenance and ROI metrics.

10. Lack of Ownership
Issue: An ineffective team overseeing the purchase and
implementation of an LMS is almost as bad as no team.
Potential Solutions: Ensure the team not only includes HR or L&D,
but other department heads who will need to ensure their
employees buy in.

11. Not Trying Before Buying
Issue: Reading about an LMS is different to actually using it.
Potential Solutions: A trial will let organisations explore the
software for themselves. It’s important they assess the end
user experience, visual representation of data and how
requests are handled.

12. Launch Right Away
Issue: Steamrolling through implementation means failing to identify
key success factors or metrics to judge an LMS against.
Potential Solutions: Discuss goals and timelines, the right amount of
preliminary training, and/or a soft launch and review of its outcomes.
This helps ensure a vendor’s plan aligns with organisation goals.

13. Not Future Planning
Issue: Not considering scalability during procurement may lead
to having to find a new system that can scale down the line.
Potential Solutions: Think 5 years ahead about how the LMS
will factor in. Additionally, consider future user numbers,
features and upgrades.

14. Conclusion
Even after reading through this presentation, mistakes will likely still
get made. That being said, it’s important to try mitigating or
eliminating as many as possible beforehand to enjoy a smoother
implementation journey.

15. You can learn more about this topic by
checking out the full article:
https://acornlms.com/resources/lms-problems