Curriculum Blueprint

Purpose

A Curriculum Blueprint is a long-term training plan which ensures that training priorities are driven by business objectives.

Process

  • Conduct relevant secondary research (such as business market research, and review of senior management goals).

  • Review existing training courses (e.g., content and collateral materials).

  • Conduct interviews with senior management and members of the target population as needed to understand strategic direction and business context of training needs.

  • Interview members of training staff to learn about currently available training and development resources.

  • Compare competency model content/needs analysis data to current training program offerings to create a matrix that identifies:

                Courses that are on-target

                Courses that are needed but not delivered effectively

                Gaps in the current curriculum based on identified competencies

                Elimination of courses that don't meet an identified need          

  • Conduct benchmark of key competitors or exemplary organizations' curriculum, as needed, to provide benchmark data and models

  • Redesign the existing curriculum based on client approval, which includes:

                A matrix identifying all courses and their relationship to needed competencies

                Identification of learning tracks and course sequencing

                Course descriptions that cross-reference related study areas

                Recommendations for addressing training gaps, including course objectives, delivery                     methods (such as classroom, e-learning, job aids, etc.) and content overviews 

Benefits

  • Build training and development solutions based on business requirements.

  • Ensure alignment between competencies/identified needs and training/development solutions.

  • Align priorities in terms of course sequencing.

  • Get buy-in of key corporate stakeholders for the long-term direction of training initiatives. 

Case Study

When a top-tier pharmaceutical company wanted to ensure that its initial training for early-hire sales representatives was complete and cutting edge, a   Curriculum Blueprint was developed. After benchmarking the curricula of key   competitors and analyzing this client’s current training plan against strategic   priorities, several courses were designed to align training with current medical   realities, including stronger emphasis on team co-promotes and competitive selling.

Result

Changes were made in the initial training curriculum that better prepared early-hire sales representatives to be successful in a highly-competitive selling marketplace.