Accenture Research Shows ‘Phenomenal’ Learning Critical to Performance

‘Phenomenal’ Learning: Based on the internal benchmarking of its own training, HR consulting firm Accenture is pioneering the concept of “phenomenal” learning as the only true way for corporations to boost employee performance. Accenture consultants Kurt Olson and John Ceisel, in a paper authored in March, cite four critical components to making phenomenal learning a reality: Learning experiences should engage people by “drawing them into a difficult problem or issue, especially one that counters or challenges their existing mental models,” use networking to help learners “build relationships with peers from around the globe,” provide opportunities “to participate in the culture of the entire company,” and include the goal of “surprising and delighting learners by the quality, engagement and even festive nature of the time in the classroom.” The transformation of Accenture’s learning function is chronicled in “Return on Learning: Training for High Performance at Accenture,” a collaborative work of several Accenture learning professionals that was published in 2006.