Built to learn : the inside story of how Rockwell Collins became a true learning organization

Both a remarkable story and a practical manual, "Built to Learn" reveals how change-averse aerospace giant Rockwell Collins reinvented its employee development programs to become a paragon of organizational learning. Step by step, the authors take the reader through each phase of design and implementation, with concrete examples of how it worked at Rockwell, and the tools to apply the processes in any company. Aerospace giant Rockwell Collins typified the old-fashioned corporate approach to organizational learning: lackluster offerings in bland classroom settings, with little connection to the needs of employees or the goals of the company. Enter Cliff Purington and Chris Butler, who in three years transformed Rockwell into a full-fledged learning organization. With a strategy-based and technology-driven learning approach, a 400 percent increase in offerings, 24/7 access for 17,000 worldwide employees, and cost savings of $23 million, Rockwell is lauded and emulated by organizations all over the world. For this vital book, Purington and Butler have organized their revolutionary approach into 10 clear steps that can similarly transform any company. Readers will learn new ways to build relationships, define core learning objectives, present a solid business case, and implement programs and assess their value. Each step offers detailed processes to follow, and explains what worked (and what didn't), revealing the secrets behind Rockwell's stunning transformation.

Two insiders tell the story of how aerospace giant Rockwell Collins, once regarded as a change-averse organization, expanded its training offerings while decreasing its training expenses. The authors present their ten-step approach to designing and implementing innovative programs, which can be adapted to any organization. Purington is director of Learning and Development at Rockwell Collins. Co-author Chris Butler worked as a consultant for Rockwell Collins. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

T + D

an accessible and practical account of the experience in dealing with KM [knowledge management] issues...I would recommend Built to Learn to any trainer who's developing new learning strategies, especially involving e-learning technology. The book portrays an encouraging example of the kind of change journey that's possible, and it gives clear and practical steps for getting there. The authors have done a good job of sharing what they've learned to help the rest of us along the way.

"A few years ago, a new learning initiative came to aerospace giant Rockwell Collins. Built to Learn is the story of why it stayed. Once regarded as a change-averse organization, Rockwell could have been the poster child for old-fashioned corporate training: lackluster offerings in bland classroom settings, with little connection to the strategic goals of the organization. But in less than three years, Rockwell's training offerings had expanded by 400 percent, instruction was available 24/7 to more than 17,000 employees around the world, and training and development expenses had decreased by 23 million dollars."--Jacket At Rockwell Collins, the rocket scientists are busy making rockets. So who did they trust to revolutionize their training and development? 1. Understand each business unit's strategic goals, challenges, and concerns.