Optimize Your Greatest Asset -- Your People: How to Apply Analytics to Big Data to Improve Your Human Capital Investments

Appendix FSocial Learning Case Study

Sun Learning Services: SUN Learning eXchange (SLX)

Background

Sun Microsystems has developed computer servers, workstations, storage systems, and more in support of open systems and open source software. The vision of Sun Microsystems is “The Network is the Computer,” a collaborative network participation through shared innovation, community development, and open-source leadership. This vision extends to organizational learning. Sun has become a thought leader in the evolution from “push” learning paradigms to a “pull” model. In comparison to Learning 1.0 models of scheduled learning events, Learning 2.0 embraces a more informal and collaborative approach with user-created content at its core. In August 2008, Sun Learning Services (SLS) launched Social Learning eXchange (SLX), an applied and successful real-world example of this vision.

Intervention: Sun Learning Exchange

SLX is a learning portal that Karie Willyerd, VP and CLO, described as “YouTube meets iTunes.” The portal supports user-generated content, cloud tags, broad search capabilities, and a social network of experts. The early results were encouraging. Within the first four weeks, usage doubled and exceeded the 10-week adoption goal.

SLX is presented as a tool for use in four broad arenas: Sales, Collaboration, Corporate Communications, and Learning. This business impact study was focused on employee usage from launch in August 2008 to June 2009.

Measurement Design

The business ...