Interactive Intelligence in Real-Time: The ADR Academy’s New Adaptive Learning Program

“Companies are scrambling to keep the skills of their buyers and supply managers up to the task of responding to wildly fluctuating costs and availability of key supplies. They need high quality training courses that are easily and instantly available,” said ADR North America CEO Bill Michels, C.P.M. “The ADR Academy fills that need with nine key courses that anyone can take if they have Internet access and a credit card.”

When I first received word that ADR North America was teaming with the Institute of Supply Management to “provide procurement and supply professionals with educational opportunities through the ISM – ADR School for Supply Management” several thoughts came to mind.

To begin, I immediately reflected back on the two-part PI Window on Business series titled “Is The Traditional Association Model Dead?”

It was an interesting and somewhat controversial series in that we assembled an international guest panel of thought leaders to discuss the changing dynamics of a profession and industry with which the majority of associations had seemed to have lost touch.

Of the many topics that were discussed, none stood out more noticeably than the declining value of the available certification courses which still seemed to reflect a Rodney Dangerfield, functional silo mindset of an adjunct position.

Trapped in a static time-warp that failed to recognize the strategic value of procurement, and its significant impact on increasingly complex supply chain practices within the emerging globalized enterprise, this excuse me ineffectiveness was reflected in listener comments such as the following:

“Where it once did, the value gained from the traditional Association model can no longer compete for my attention.  I need to collaborate bigger, faster, stronger – and at my convenience.

Associations could better leverage Web 2.0 to deliver a greater level of service to me as a supply chain professional by more actively, rapidly and efficiently aligning with the pace at which new, useful industry information becomes available – then delivering this information in an effective way, so as to keep me abreast of trends, best-practices and exchange ideas with fellow members; thereby making me a more valuable professional.

If done effectively, this would be a value proposition beyond what I see today in many other Associations.  This value, in turn, may then attract membership at a higher rate; thus creating an even larger, and more valuable platform for so many to exchange real-life, real-time expertise and experience – again, contributing to my value as a professional.

The platform could also host polls for its members – such as rating the many certification and professional designation courses available to us.  This service would be valuable to the many of us that seek continual professional development, but would appreciate our peers’ comparative assessments prior to making the spend.”

From Lance, Global Logistics Specialist, Panama (Maersk Logistics)

Growing sentiments like the one expressed above should have served as a general wake-up call for associations.  In some cases, such as with  ISM’s teaming with ADR, it did.

Responding to the need to “collaborate bigger, faster, stronger – and at (the procurement professional’s) convenience,” the high quality courses which according toADR’s CEO Bill Michels are “easily and instantly available,”  deliver information in an effective way, so as to keep (the procurement professional) abreast of “trends and best-practices.”  In short, adaptive learning is now a reality through the ADR Academy!

The key however, is that the real value is not confined to the convenient venue through which the curriculum is delivered.

ADR’s Michels, who is an author and acknowledged industry expert, brings to the table 20 years of experience with more than 200 clients worldwide.

The resulting 9 courses, which take between 90 minutes and 2 hours to complete, offer practical tools, hands-on exercises and case studies to help professionals to gain a working knowledge in critical areas of a modern supply chain practice.

Having had the opportunity to briefly review the Portfolio Analysis module, the aforementioned Michel’s expertise is clearly present in the material.  The fact that ADR specializes in providing “high quality professional development programs for supply managers, using workshops, eLearning modules, Webinars and blended forms of teaching,” means that the ongoing veracity and relevance of the courses will be maintained to always reflect real-world conditions.

Referring once again to Lance, the Global Logistics Specialist from Panama, the ADR Academy is the answer in terms of making him (as well as professionals in general), more valuable to their companies and the industry as a whole.

Bill Michels & the PI Window on Business Thought Leaders Series

As highlighted in my December 31st post “Exciting New Vistas Await the PI Window on Business Show in 2010,” we have launched the new PI Window on Business Thought Leaders segment in which we will be joined by industry experts such as high tech entrepreneur and investment expert Brad Feld who will provide insights on the state of the Venture Capital world including emerging opportunities in the new Feld’s Picks series.

I am pleased to announce that providing his perspective on the trends that are influencing and reshaping the world of purchasing and supply chain practice is author and industry expert Bill Michels.

Starting in February, and appearing once every quarter thereafter, Bill will bring a dimension of insight that will be both thought provoking and informative for everyone from procurement professionals to software vendors and consultants.

Bill of course has previously been a guest on the PI Window on Business Show including the August 11th segment “Intersecting Ideals: Why GM’s Supply Chain is in a State of Ruin,” and the September 30th Buy American Special in which he was part of an international guest panel of experts that included a brief interview with Canada’s Trade Minister Stockwell Day.

According to ADR International’s Robert Rossbach, a leading global procurement and supply management consultancy firm of which Bill is the CEO, Michels is “quite pleased to be a regular contributor” on the PI Window on Business Show.

Visit the PI Window on Business Main Show Page and Blog for additional details.

Bill’s Book:

Transform Your Supply Chain comprehensively covers the field of strategic supply chain management. It takes a direct but challenging approach to the subject and uses international case studies to bring it to life. It enables the reader to: understand the different types of supply chain and trading relationships; plan a business development strategy for boosting profitability across the supply chain; clarify the roles and responsibilities of board directors and senior management; draw up a business-wide transformation programme capable of successful delivery and measure the contribution of all parties involved in both strategic change and operational improvement.

In the meantime, use the On-Demand Player below to access the August 11th interview with Bill Michels.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

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