Any organization can appreciate the advantages of an LCMS: the ability to translate flexible content creation and distribution into faster times to market, greater customer satisfaction and loyalty, increased sales, quality improvements, better use of learning resources and shorter times to performance for new hires. The desirability of these outcomes suggests there is wisdom in thinking ahead. An LCMS implementation in a single department today can easily become the seed for an enterprise-wide LCMS tomorrow if scalability is given adequate consideration early on.

An LCMS allows L&D to become an active part of the organization's competitive mix. Reaping its full advantage requires a strategic, well-planned approach to implementation-”one that capitalizes on established best practices.

1. Define standards upfront
   
   
   The first critical implementation step is to define standards that bring consistency and clarity to content development, eliminate duplication, enable efficiencies and clarify relationships. This is necessary for L&D organizations no matter what their constitution, whether centralized or decentralized, federated, syndicated or siloed.
2. Plot the taxonomy
   
   
   Before an LCMS can be implemented, an integrated taxonomy must be defined, encompassing naming conventions, metadata, workflows, access privileges and other considerations. The taxonomy has to make sense for the management of learning content, which must be created with maximum potential for reuse.
3. Establish governance practices for long-term success
   
   
   Good governance is key to continuous improvement. Mechanisms must be developed to ensure that the standards are upheld over time, and that the taxonomies are used consistently and correctly. Governance structures and practices have to be assessed to ensure both compliance and the alignment of systems and behaviors with business objectives. Once established, the LCMS can play an effective role in upholding standards and governance practices.
4. Manage change
   
   
   As with any IT implementation, synergies must be achieved among the technology, the surrounding -˜process environment', and the people working with the system. Where an LCMS is concerned, this invariably means some degree of change for developers, reviewers and managers of learning content. Preparing to manage change over the long term is prudent, as research shows that the benefits to be derived from an LCMS come with several years of operation (during which time methodologies and taxonomies are refined and additional functions are integrated).

By adhering to best practices and staying mindful of common pitfalls, organizations can implement their LCMSs effectively and in a way that lays a solid foundation for long-term success.

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