This Week's Herman Trend Alert Telecommuting to a Better Bottom Line

The Herman Trend Alert December 10, 2003 Education Curricula Shift School systems theoretically design and adjust their curricula---the courses that are taught to their communities' children---based on needs in the local community and around the world. Even though graduates move into national and international employment arenas, education remains a local purview---at least in the United States. Different countries have different policies about how education is delivered to students. The world is changing, more rapidly than many of us would like to acknowledge. These changes will necessitate alterations in the world's educational systems. Moving toward today's student needs, educators have increasingly focused on encouraging more students to qualify and enroll in four-year colleges and universities. Employers have sought applicants with degrees from these institutions, regardless of the relevancy of the educational experience to the requirements of the job. Indications are that we will need a different kind of educational system in the years ahead. While employers still appreciate graduates having a broad range of knowledge, they are practically begging for young people who can think, collaborate, communicate, coordinate, and create. Managers are frustrated with employees that have proficiency in particular skills, but are unable to effectively apply those skills to achieve results. There is a growing need for workers who can adapt quickly by learning new skills or knowledge and applying those strengths quickly to respond to customer expectations. Over the next 20 years, school curricula will be more geared toward teaching skills in learning and problem solving rather than mere factual knowledge. The shift will give even more attention to critical thinking, concept development, group work, project based learning, and similar aspects of applied knowledge and process skills. Our educational systems around the world will be agonizingly slow to adapt to changing needs. The answer lies in adult education and the workplace. Universities offering continuing education courses to [working] adults will introduce more of what they may call soft courses. Corporations are already investing in teaching these emerging skills and will promote such courses more heavily in years ahead. Corporate trainers will deliver these learning opportunities to employees at all levels, giving their companies a competitive edge. © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." NEED HELP THINKING ABOUT YOUR FUTURE? Our futurists offer thought-provoking and penetrating insights, along with creative ideas to implement right away. Whether you're looking for a speaker or a consultant or a facilitator for your strategic planning retreat, The Herman Group can help you find a person for your needs, no matter what your topic. Call Joyce at 336-210-3548 to discuss your event. REDUCE COSTS BY LOWERING EMPLOYEE TURNOVER If you knew just how much money turnover is costing your company, you would have handled it ages ago! Turnover costs A LOT and it comes right off the bottom line. Let The Herman Group and its team of very experienced consultants help you address your turnover issues right away. We have an impressive track record and stand ready to help you. Call Carol at 800-227-3566; international, call 336-210-3547 for a no-obligation conference call. GOOD SELECTION = BETTER RETENTION If you are not using pre-employment assessments, you are flying without radar---not very smart in today's highly competitive environment. Let us help you better understand your candidates and your employees. In less than 30 minutes, you will know if they can do the job (abilities); their work behaviors, even their personality and attitudes (like integrity & ethics), and those can't be trained. It's very cost effective, too! For more information, contact Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail assessments@hermangroup.com. Validated for many countries and cultures. We offer in-depth help with job descriptions, too! http://www.hermangroup.com/assessments.html. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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