Elearning at Dow Chemical

1
E-learning at Dow Chemical

• LearnShare E-Learning Best Practices
• Sonya Davis
• Global Project Leader
• Human Resources Strategic Center

2
The Dow Chemical Company

• Dow is a global company
• 50,000 employees
• 30 billion in annual sales
• 171 sites in 35 countries
• Serves many markets
• Water purification - Health Medicine
• Transportation - Paper and Printing
• Electronics - Building Construction
• Food - Furniture/Furnishings
• Personal care - Home care/improvement

3
Learning A Strategic Element to Global Success

• 1995 Dow began shifting to global, de-layered
  structure based on business units
• Learning Leadership Team was formed to address
  needs of global workforce
• Challenge How do we provide the latest most cost
  effective learning just in time to learners where
  and when they want it?

4
The answer learn_at_dow.now

• A global web-based learning management and
  delivery system
• Courses are developed internally, purchased from
  external sources and/or developed specifically
  for Dow (5 preferred vendors)
• Links to employee training records

5
Advantages of Web-based Training Delivery

• Consistent message to all employees globally
• Just-in-time training
• Always available
• Employees are in control and can receive training
  anytime and anywhere
• Delivery cost benefits

6
Keys To Success

• Common IT Platform
• Open Platform
• Reduction in delivery costs while providing
  greater access to training when and where
  employees want it.
• Preferred Vendors
• Management Support

7
Investments

• Start-up
• 1 million to purchase project
• Design team comprised of six employees and
  managers
• Ongoing cost
• Annual operational cost 540,000
• One full-time manager and five employees in
  part-time roles (functional administrators), and
  learning coordinators.

8
learn_at_dow.now Today

• 600 courses available
• Subject areas range from safety to marketing
• 153,392 courses completed in 2000
• 315,265 courses completed in 2001

9
Cost Benefits

• Savings in 2000 22 million
• Savings in 2001 45 million
• Projection for 1999-2003 189 million
• Based on measurement of
• Automatic vs. manual records
• Reduction of delivery and material cost
• Reduction in learner time

10
Change Management Considerations

• Clear value proposition
• Convert learners from classroom to web-based
• Deliver content in multiple languages
• Increase awareness and usage through the
  organization
• Provide ongoing system support and operation

11
Whats next?

• Technical expansions video enhancements which
  will broaden use
• Blended solutions Use learn_at_dow.now with
  NetMeeting/LearnLinc for classroom settings
• Audience expansion Use learn_at_dow.now to train
  customers, suppliers, distributors