The impact of e-learning in workplace: focus on organizations and healthcare environments

Abstract

Although there has been much research on e-learning in the educational context, far less has been written about e-learning in the workplace. The purpose of this review is to draw together what research has been done on e-learning in the workplace to inform future researchers. E-learning is one answer to sweeping global changes, labor market and productivity issues. The review shows that e-learning is being spurred on in Canada by three drivers: the global economic context, the human capital context, and the information and communication technology context. The paper shows that the employers can integrate individual learning with organizational needs and provide employees with the knowledge and skills they need. Thus employee receives the modules of information and learning that fit their current need. Cost effectiveness was cited as one top reason to use e-learning, especially for organization that are already using ICTs in their work processes. Researchers posited that ICTs are increasingly playing an important role in organizations and society's ability to produce access, adopt and apply information. In addition there is cost saving in terms of time. As in all types of working environment, but especially more so in the medical and healthcare environment where being complacent, negligence and out of date with work related advances could make the difference between life and death outcome in patients. There is a constant need to rapidly train and retrain the workforce in new technologies, products, and services found within the work place setting. Finally the paper looked into its benefits and barriers to e-learning