Learning Analysis and AI

So, I've started thinking about ways to use AI for more efficient learning analysis. My favorite analysis tool is the High Impact Learning Map championed by Dr. Robert Brinkerhoff. My HILMs generally work like this:

1. Working with the Client to determine the measurable business OUTCOMES desired
2. For EACH outcome determine the roles within the organization that might impact the outcome (positively or negatively)
3. For EACH role, what are the skills, knowledge, and environment (processes and systems) needed to impact those outcomes
4. Determine the learning objectives to support the skills, knowledge, and environment defined in step 3
5. Organize the learning objectives into curricula to support the roles within the organization

Though the process is not as laborious as it seems, it certainly does require a good deal of stakeholder and SME time. I though by using AI, I could reduce the stakeholder and SME time needed by using AI as a SME substitute to create a draft analysis for gathering final feedback quickly.

I first tried this one step at a time using the new MS Bing AI Search: What can the new Bing chat do? - Search. Sure enough, I got some good usable results by asking the theoretical question "Which roles at a car dealership can help to increase sales at the dealership?" A number of roles were listed, some I was not aware of like "lot manager" but other roles seemed missing like "service technician."

I then thought to both widen and deepen my query by changing the AI prompt to "Do a learning analysis to determine the skills required for each role at a car dealership to increase sales." What do you know - I got detailed listing of skills and knowledge for each of the same roles that were generated in the first question.

This helped make my next query a bit bolder, and I asked the Bing AI to "Create a high impact learning map to increase sales at a car dealership." The results were fairly impressive but did not really provide the full HILM. Still, the result is impressive.

Lessons for me:

1. Don't rely on generative AI output to provide a complete analysis - as ever - it does not replace human analysis
2. It certainly can save a remarkable amount of research time and provide results for discussion and building a firm analytical foundation

I've provided the results for the first two roles below:

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# High Impact Learning Map: Sales Manager

## Learning Objective: To improve sales management skills and knowledge for car dealership sales managers.

## Learning Activities:

- **Pre-assessment**: A quiz or survey to assess the current sales management skills and knowledge of the sales managers and identify their strengths and weaknesses.

- **Sales Management Training**: A series of online or in-person modules or workshops that cover topics such as leadership, communication, sales coaching, sales planning, sales analysis, sales budgeting, sales inventory, and sales hiring. Each module or workshop should include interactive exercises, examples, feedback, and practice opportunities.

- **Sales Management Coaching**: A one-on-one or group session with an experienced sales management consultant or coach who can provide personalized guidance, tips, and feedback to the sales managers based on their performance and goals.

- **Sales Management Simulation**: A realistic scenario or role-play that allows the sales managers to apply their sales management skills and knowledge in a simulated car dealership environment. The simulation should include challenges, feedback, and evaluation.

- **Sales Management Action Plan**: A document or tool that helps the sales managers plan and track their sales management activities, goals, and results. The action plan should include specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives and strategies.

## Learning Outcomes:

- **Increased sales management performance**: The sales managers should be able to demonstrate improved sales management skills and knowledge in their actual car dealership environment. They should be able to lead, motivate, coach, and support their sales team effectively. They should be able to plan, monitor, analyze, and optimize their sales operations efficiently. They should be able to manage their sales budget and inventory prudently. They should be able to hire and train new salespeople successfully.

- **Increased sales management confidence**: The sales managers should be able to express more confidence and authority in their sales management role. They should be able to handle any sales management situation with ease and professionalism.

- **Increased sales management motivation**: The sales managers should be able to show more motivation and commitment to their sales management role. They should be able to seek new opportunities, challenges, and learning experiences to enhance their sales management career.

# High Impact Learning Map: Finance Manager

## Learning Objective: To improve finance skills and knowledge for car dealership finance managers.

## Learning Activities:

- **Pre-assessment**: A quiz or survey to assess the current finance skills and knowledge of the finance managers and identify their strengths and weaknesses.

- **Finance Training**: A series of online or in-person modules or workshops that cover topics such as finance products and services, finance regulations and compliance, finance negotiation and closing, finance paperwork and contracts, finance customer service and satisfaction. Each module or workshop should include interactive exercises, examples, feedback, and practice opportunities.

- **Finance Coaching**: A one-on-one or group session with an experienced finance consultant or coach who can provide personalized guidance, tips, and feedback to the finance managers based on their performance and goals.

- **Finance Simulation**: A realistic scenario or role-play that allows the finance managers to apply their finance skills and knowledge in a simulated car dealership environment. The simulation should include challenges, feedback, and evaluation.

- **Finance Action Plan**: A document or tool that helps the finance managers plan and track their finance activities, goals, and results. The action plan should include specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives and strategies.

## Learning Outcomes:

- **Increased finance performance**: The finance managers should be able to demonstrate improved finance skills and knowledge in their actual car dealership environment. They should be able to offer and explain various finance options and products to customers effectively. They should be able to negotiate and close deals with customers and lenders successfully. They should be able to prepare and process finance paperwork and contracts accurately. They should be able to ensure compliance with finance laws and regulations diligently. They should be able to resolve any finance issues or disputes satisfactorily.

- **Increased finance confidence**: The finance managers should be able to express more confidence and competence in their finance role. They should be able to handle any finance situation with ease and professionalism.

- **Increased finance motivation**: The finance managers should be able to show more motivation and commitment to their finance role. They should be able to seek new opportunities, challenges, and learning experiences to enhance their finance career.

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