How to integrate technology‐enhanced learning with business process management

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose an innovative approach for providing an answer to the emerging trends on how to integrate e-learning efficiently in the business value chain in medium and large enterprises. Design/methodology/approach – The proposed approach defines methodologies and technologies for integrating technology-enhanced learning with knowledge and human resources management based on a synergistic use of knowledge models, methods, technologies and approaches covering different steps of the knowledge life-cycle. Findings – The proposed approach makes explicit and supports, from the methodological, technological and organizational points of view, mutual dependencies between the enterprise’s organizational learning and the business processes, considering also their integration in order to allow the optimization of employees’ learning plans with respect to business processes and taking into account competencies, skills, performances and knowledge available inside the organization. Practical implications – This mutual dependency, bridging individual and organizational learning, enables an improvement loop to become a key aspect for successful business process improvement (BPI) and business process reengineering (BPR), enabling closure of, at the same time, the learning and knowledge loops at individual, group and organization levels. Originality/value – The proposed improvements are relevant with respect to the state of the art and respond to a real need felt by enterprises and further commercial solutions and research projects on the theme.