Bersin & Associates Announces 2011 Learning Leaders Program and Call for Applications

OAKLAND, Calif., June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Bersin & Associates, the only research and advisory firm focused solely on enterprise learning, talent management, and talent acquisition, announced the call for applications for the Bersin & Associates 2011 Learning Leaders Program, a research-driven program designed to recognize innovation and excellence in critical areas of corporate training and talent management.

Organizations interested in applying can go to www.bersin.com/leaders  to download applications. The deadline for application submission is October 8, 2010.

The Bersin & Associates Learning Leaders Program, now in its fifth year, will recognize up to 25 winning organizations. The program is targeted to organizations which have developed and implemented highly effective and efficient approaches to learning and talent management resulting in significant business improvement. The program also has categories for providers of training and talent management products and services whose customers have improved efficiency and effectiveness by using the latest technologies, content or approaches.

Organizations can apply in one or more of the following categories: (1) operational training and development excellence, (2) leadership development excellence, (3) learning and talent initiative excellence, (4) learning and talent technology excellence, (5) learning organization and governance excellence, and (6) vendor innovation in learning and talent management. Each category (with the exception of vendor innovation) has three segments based on organization size: global enterprise, enterprise, and mid-market. Applicants are evaluated along with peers in the same segment.

"What we initially conceived as a recognition program has evolved over five years into a big part of our research," said Josh Bersin. "For example, last year's applicants gave us tremendous insight into best practices for managing critical programs with fewer resources – a theme woven throughout our research all year in detailed case studies and webinars and as examples in our industry studies. As the economy slowly starts to recover and companies begin to focus on growth and innovation, we anticipate seeing some new themes emerge, such as strategies for global talent acquisition and ways to improve first –line leadership skills."

Winning organizations and their learning and talent management programs will be showcased in a special awards issue of Elearning! Magazine, the media partner for the Bersin & Associates Learning Leaders Program. Winners also will be recognized and their programs featured on the agenda at the Bersin & Associates IMPACT 2011 research conference, to be held April 26-28, 2011 in St. Petersburg, Florida. In addition, Bersin & Associates will develop its annual Learning Leaders report on best practices, findings, and observations collected during the evaluation process. Other program-related activities include public webinars featuring specific training and talent management topic areas and leaders.

Previous winners include organizations from around the world in a range of sizes and industries. For an in-depth look at past winners and their initiatives, download the free report, Learning Leaders: Lessons from the Best.     In addition, Josh Bersin will host the first in a series of webinars highlighting winners on July 20, 2010, 2:00 p.m. ET. The webinar, Learning Leaders: Excellence in Sales Training, will feature speakers from Cisco and Coldwell Banker Commercial, both named Learning Leaders in 2010. Cisco retooled 40 hours of instructor-led sales channel training into a 16 hour virtual training program, resulting in high learning scores and an 85 percent drop in cost per student. Coldwell Banker Commercial implemented a blended training program for its new agents which resulted in a 30 percent increase in sales transaction volume from new hires. To register, click here.

"This is our fifth year as the Learning Leaders media partner," said Catherine Upton, publisher of Elearning! Magazine. "As the program has grown, we have expanded our coverage of the winning organizations throughout all of our channels – print, e-news and events. Content about the challenges faced by the winners and their learning and talent solutions has proven to be very popular with our audience and we look forward to bringing them more proven strategies and approaches in 2011."

About Bersin & Associates

Bersin & Associates is the only research and advisory firm focused solely on research in enterprise learning, talent management, and talent acquisition. The company's WhatWorks® membership program offers actionable guidance, improves operational effectiveness, and delivers business impact to companies in all industry segments.

Bersin & Associates research members gain access to a comprehensive library of best practices, case studies, benchmarks, and in-depth market analyses and research-based services designed to assist professionals in making fast and confident decisions. Members also have direct access to analysts and a wide range of tested tools and models to address both strategic and day-to-day challenges. More than 5,000 organizations worldwide have used Bersin & Associates' research and advisory services to guide talent and corporate learning strategies. Research areas include planning and strategy, learning programs and delivery, talent management, leadership development and succession planning, talent acquisition, technology and infrastructure, informal learning, social networking, measurement and analytics.

For more information, go to www.bersin.com or call 561 455 0622.

About Elearning!

Elearning! Media Group is owned by B2B Media Group LLC. Elearning! Media Group consists of twelve media products including: Elearning! Magazine, Government Elearning! Magazine, eMagazines, e-mail newsletters, Alerts, web sites and the Elearning! Summits. Elearning! Media Group serves the $160 billion e-learning market. In combination, these brands reach over 2 million executives, practitioners and professionals all evaluating, deploying or implementing e-learning solutions across their organizations each year. To learn more, visit: 2elearning.com and/or gov.2elearning.com

SOURCE Bersin & Associates