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Bersin & Associates Announces Industry's First Analysis of Enterprise-Wide LMS Implementations; Offers Insight into Oracle's Acquisition of PeopleSoftOAKLAND, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Dec. 16, 2004 -- -- Study Advises Corporate Buyers on Costs, Organizational Models, IT Requirements, and Feature Sets Required for Enterprise Implementations; -- Includes Special Focus on LMS Offerings from PeopleSoft, Oracle, and SAP Bersin & Associates, the only research and advisory firm solely focused on What Works(R) e-learning research, today announced the availability of its newest report, "The Enterprise Learning Management System: Facts, Analysis, and Considerations for the Corporate Buyer." Targeted to corporate buyers, the 48-page report analyzes options for enterprise-wide implementations of learning management systems, which require centralized strategies, span learning for entire organizations, and usually include integration with HR and other business applications. The report also compares these implementations to divisional implementations, which typically are based on decentralized strategies and encompass one or more business units or specific learner audiences in an organization. The report includes an overview of Oracle's just-announced acquisition of PeopleSoft, the likely impact on the LMS offering of each company, and considerations for prospective buyers. A bonus section profiles the LMS offerings from ERP vendors PeopleSoft, Oracle, and SAP and highlights strengths and weaknesses of each vendor's LMS system. "There is a definite trend in large organizations to move to enterprise-wide LMS solutions," said Josh Bersin, president and CEO of Bersin and Associates. "The purpose of this report is to help companies determine when an enterprise approach is right for them and to highlight the special requirements of LMS systems used enterprise wide. We also wanted to take an in-depth look at the major ERP vendors now entering the LMS market and how their offerings compare to those from dedicated LMS vendors. "Oracle's acquisition of PeopleSoft was done to better position the company against SAP," said Bersin. "The immediate focus of the newly combined company will be on product integration and selling 'the suite.' There are good reasons that those considering LMSs from either company should take a wait-and-see approach." This study builds on data collected for the Bersin & Associates LMS market analysis, released in June 2004, and is supplemented with in-depth interviews from companies such as BancOne, Deutsch Telecom, General Dynamics, and Kerr McGee. The study also includes: -- Cost of ownership differences between divisional and enterprise approaches. -- Guidelines for determining which approach best matches an organization's needs and corporate culture. -- Special features required for enterprise LMSs, such as those for management of multiple administrative domains and customization toolsets. -- Integration of enterprise-wide LMSs with HR, performance management, and other business applications. The Bersin & Associates study is immediately available to research subscribers; copies of the report can be purchased for $495 at http://store.bersinassociates.com/elms.html. About Bersin & Associates Bersin & Associates (www.bersin.com) is the only research and advisory firm solely focused on e-learning with a comprehensive research program targeted to the needs of learning professionals and executives. In 2001, Bersin & Associates introduced the What Works series, primary research that offers learning practitioners factual and practical insight that can improve program effectiveness and results, reduce costs, and avoid time-consuming and costly mistakes. The company specializes in five research areas: blended learning, content development, LMSs and infrastructure, measurement and analytics, and planning and strategy. The company develops industry-leading research studies, assists in corporate implementations, and provides support and services to corporations and e-learning vendors. For more information on Bersin & Associates research library, visit http://www.elearningresearch.com or call (510) 654-8500. |
