Your Confident Decision for the Right LMS
Test Your Future Learning Management System Thoroughly
Choosing a Learning Management System (LMS) is a strategic decision that significantly impacts the success of your training and development programs. To ensure that the selected system meets your requirements, a fact-based, reliable decision is essential.
A test installation offers you the perfect opportunity to trial and evaluate the LMS in your own environment.
Benefits of a Test Installation: Greater Confidence in Your Decision
A test installation of an LMS allows you to experience the system in a practical setting and make informed decisions. Here are the key benefits:
- Real-World Testing: Experience the LMS in a realistic environment and assess how well it meets your needs.
- Customized Adjustments: During the test phase, specific settings can be configured to tailor the LMS to your needs.
- Comprehensive Training for the Pilot Team: Your pilot team will receive thorough training during the test installation, ensuring they fully understand the system’s capabilities and limitations.
- Data Migration: Existing data can be transferred to make the test as realistic as possible.
Structured Test Scenarios: The Key to Reliable Results
A successful test installation requires well-thought-out and structured test scenarios that are defined from the user's perspective. Here's how to proceed:
1. Defining Test Scenarios: The Foundation for Meaningful Results
The first step in creating effective test scenarios is to carefully define the relevant processes and functions that your LMS should support.
Follow these systematic steps:
-
Identify Core Processes: What are the key tasks that your training administrators perform daily? Examples might include creating courses, managing participants, or assigning training content.
Example: If a typical process in your organization involves creating and assigning training for new employees, this should be defined as one of the main scenarios.
-
Establish Testing Criteria: What exactly should be tested? This could include the user-friendliness of the interface, the speed of system processes, or the accuracy of reports.
Example: For the scenario "Creating and Assigning Training," the testing criteria might include the number of clicks required to create a course, the clarity of the administration interface, and the reliability of course assignments.
-
Involve Relevant Stakeholders: Engage all relevant stakeholders, especially your training administrators and IT personnel, in defining the test scenarios. This ensures that all critical requirements are considered.
2. Executing the Tests: Systematic and Traceable
After defining the test scenarios, the next step is to systematically execute the tests. Here’s how to approach it:
-
Document the Test Process: Record every step in detail. This means documenting all actions, from logging into the system to performing the individual tests, so you can later precisely trace how the results were obtained.
Example: When testing course management, the test step "Creating a New Course" could be documented in detail: Which menu options were selected, which fields needed to be filled out, and how long the entire process took.
-
Simulate Real Conditions: Try to conduct the tests under conditions as close to reality as possible. This includes having multiple users working in the system simultaneously or using data volumes typical of your day-to-day operations.
Example: Simulate a typical training session with 50 participants to test system performance and the speed of course assignments.
-
Involve Test Users: Have actual users, namely your training administrators, carry out the scenarios. They are most familiar with the requirements and can provide valuable feedback.
3. Evaluating the Results: Creating a Solid Decision-Making Basis
The evaluation of the tests is crucial to making a reliable decision about the LMS. Here's how to proceed:
-
Analyze the Test Results: Assess to what extent the LMS met the defined testing criteria. Pay particular attention to the areas that are critical for your operations.
Example: If the LMS met all functions in the "Creating and Assigning Training" scenario but was too slow to respond, this could indicate a need for optimization or even a sign that the solution may be unsuitable.
-
Establish Feedback Loops with the Provider: Set up regular feedback loops with the LMS provider. This allows you to clarify requirements in case of discrepancies and make additional configurations to accurately reflect your processes.
Example: If certain functionalities do not fully meet your expectations, you can refine your requirements and work with the provider to make necessary adjustments, ensuring the LMS aligns more closely with your operational needs.
-
Gather Feedback: Collect feedback from the users involved in the test. This qualitative feedback can provide insights into how well the LMS would work in practice.
Example: Your training administrators might point out that certain processes are too complicated or that important features are missing.
-
Create a Final Report: Summarize the test results in a structured report. This should include not only the fulfillment of the testing criteria but also user feedback and potential improvement suggestions.
Example: The final report might recommend further testing of the LMS or suggest rejecting it if certain deficiencies are critical to operational success.
The Importance of a Well-Defined Requirement Specification (Specification Document)
A detailed requirement specification, also known as a specification document, is crucial for the successful selection and implementation of a Learning Management System (LMS). This document ensures that all specific needs and requirements of your organization are clearly defined and documented. A precise specification document offers the following benefits:
- Clear Requirements: A well-defined specification document clearly outlines all relevant requirements for the LMS. This includes functional requirements, such as user account management and report generation, as well as non-functional requirements, such as system speed and user-friendliness.
- Reduction of Misunderstandings: A thorough specification document minimizes the risk of misunderstandings between you and the LMS provider. It serves as a binding reference for communication and ensures that all parties have the same expectations of the system.
- Effective Evaluation: With a clearly defined specification document, you can tailor the LMS test installation to your specific requirements. This allows for a more precise assessment of whether the system meets your needs and performs well in practice.
- Basis for Adjustments: If the test phase reveals that the LMS does not fully meet all requirements, the specification document provides a solid foundation for formulating and negotiating necessary adjustments and improvements with the provider.
- Long-Term Planning: A detailed requirement specification supports not only the current selection decision but also long-term planning and development of your training processes. It enables targeted adjustments and expansions of the system to accommodate future needs.
Overall, a well-defined requirement specification is essential to ensure that the selected LMS is optimally tailored to your specific needs and effectively supports your training objectives.
Conclusion: Structured Test Scenarios for a Well-Informed LMS Decision
By defining and executing structured test scenarios, you gain precise and reliable data on how well a Learning Management System fits your organization’s requirements. This method minimizes risks and ensures that your decision is based on a solid foundation. In this way, you can be confident that the chosen LMS will effectively support your training programs.
About SoftDeCC
Since 1998 SoftDeCC is working closely with major traning centers and academies. This results in a uniquely broad experience with training requirements.
Our Learning Management System TCmanager® is designed to adjust to individual corporate learning processes and address evolving challenges. More about us...
Want to know more?
Arrange for your free consultancy appointment to discuss your challenge with us.
Call +49 (0)89 / 309083930.
