SkillSoft’s Multi-Modal Learning Solution to Bring Personalized, Just-in-Time Learning Resources to CSC Employees Enterprise-wide
NASHUA, N.H., Sep 22, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ — SkillSoft PLC (Nasdaq: SKIL), a leading provider of content resources and complementary technologies for integrated enterprise learning, today announced that Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC), a leading global information technology (IT) services company, has successfully launched its new learning initiative based on SkillChoice(R), SkillSoft’s multi-modal learning solution. CSC’s employees worldwide can now immediately access and search thousands of courses and books for information specific to questions or learning needs related to business, finance, engineering, and IT. Employees can then choose from available learning resources those that best meet their information needs, time constraints, and learning preferences.
The learning initiative is based on a contract between the two companies that covers hosting services for SkillPort, SkillSoft’s learning management platform, as well as SkillSoft’s IT and business course collections, Express Guide(TM) manuals, and Books24x7 Referenceware collections ITPro, BusinessPro, and OfficeEssentials. Additionally, CSC has licensed Books24x7’s FinancePro, EngineeringPro, and ExecSummaries collections. CSC employees will have access to new courses and online books added throughout the duration of the agreement. The agreement also gives CSC access to all localized versions of IT and business courses, as well as multi-language support for SkillPort.
“This learning initiative represents a paradigm shift from event-based learning to integrated performance support,” said Holly Huntley, director and CLO of CSC’s Global Learning and Development Management organization. “Learning should no longer be viewed as a scheduled, approved event. For today’s business demands — and today’s knowledge workers — learning must be directly relevant, instantly accessible, and available in different delivery options.”
“Clients such as CSC must have a wide range of up-to-date information resources for their consulting professionals, many of whom are working with emerging or esoteric technologies. Equally critical is the need to rapidly find the information for the problem or question at hand. Since many of the company’s employees are billable, unproductive information searches take up valuable time and directly impact the bottom line,” said Jerry Nine, chief operating officer of SkillSoft. Nine cited an IDC study in 2003 that estimated the average knowledge worker spends 15-20% of her time searching for information. According to the study, fewer than 50% of the searches are successful. For a company employing 1,000 knowledge workers, the cost of unproductive searches could reach $6 million annually, according to IDC.
“The ability to precisely pinpoint needed information makes SkillChoice a tool our professionals can efficiently integrate into their daily work to solve problems. With traditional training, time spent away from the job continues to be an obstacle. The shift to performance support actually saves time for employees,” said Huntley. “SkillPort’s usage and time tracking gives us a clear picture of learning needs and behaviors and allows us to monitor the return on our investment.” CSC also uses SkillPort reporting to help the company reach its goal of involving each employee in a minimum of 40 hours of learning activity each year — while reducing per employee training costs.
In addition to being used for self-directed, on-the-job learning, SkillSoft resources are also tied to formal training initiatives, such as IT, leadership and Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. ExecSummaries, which are eight- to ten-page summaries of best-selling business books, are used as course prerequisites and supplements for CSC’s senior leadership development and succession planning programs. “These summaries are ideal for senior executives, who never have enough time to read the entire book. I liken them to Cliffs Notes(R) for business professionals,” said Fred Vollrath, corporate vice president of human resources for CSC. “We have learned even executives like to choose how to access the information. Some of them want to download these book summaries for later reading; others prefer mp3 format or audio-based CDs so they can make drive time more productive.”
About CSC
Founded in 1959, Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC) is a leading global IT services company. CSC’s mission is to provide customers in industry and government with solutions crafted to meet their specific challenges and enable them to profit from the advanced use of technology.
With approximately 90,000 employees, CSC provides innovative solutions for customers around the world by applying leading technologies and CSC’s own advanced capabilities. These include systems design and integration; IT and business process outsourcing; applications software development; Web and application hosting; and management consulting. Headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., CSC reported revenue of $14.9 billion for the 12 months ended July 2, 2004. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.csc.com.
About SkillSoft
SkillSoft is a leading provider of comprehensive e-learning content and technology products for business and IT professionals within the Global 2000. SkillSoft’s multi-modal learning solutions support and enhance the speed and effectiveness of both formal and informal learning processes and integrate SkillSoft’s in-depth content resources, learning management platform and virtual classroom technology and support services.
Content offerings include SkillSoft’s business and IT skills courseware collections; ITPro, BusinessPro, FinancePro, EngineeringPro, OfficeEssentials, and ExecSummaries Referenceware(TM) collections by Books24x7; and health and safety compliance courseware by GoTrain. SkillSoft’s complementary technologies include SkillPort, the company’s learning management platform with its powerful Search-and-Learn capabilities, and SkillSoft Dialogue, the company’s newly introduced virtual classroom offering with associated tools for blended learning solutions. For more information, visit http://www.skillsoft.com.
All rights reserved. SkillSoft, the SkillSoft logo, Ahead of the Learning Curve, SkillPort, Search-and-Learn, SkillChoice, Books24x7, Referenceware, ITPro, BusinessPro, OfficeEssentials, EngineeringPro, ExecSummaries, Express Guide and Dialogue are trademarks or registered trademarks of SkillSoft PLC in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding SkillSoft Corporation’s business which are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.
