Cost
If the online learning scores brilliantly in all the above-noted criteria, what if it's too costly to purchase or maintain? There are many ways to examine the costs of running any training program, but the best way to think about it is to be consistent. Does your organization already calculate a cost-per-learner metric or have some other way to determine the cost of running a learning program—online or not—on an annual basis? If not, you should.
First, determine the costs of running an existing program by determining all the costs for developing the course (instructional designer costs, time, travel costs, purchasing cost, and any annual fees for maintaining the course such as an LMS, conference center rental, or annual licenses). Then divide this number by the number of learners who have or will experience the course in the calendar year. Now you have your annual cost-per-learner metric.
Once you calculate the cost per learner for existing programs, calculate it for the online program you are evaluating. You probably will have to estimate some of the figures in the formula (for example, how many learners will go through the program during the first year). Where does the online program fall with the distribution of all your programs? This gives you a good way to compare this potential program with existing ones based on
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While upfront development costs (or purchase costs, if it's off-the-shelf) can be seen as higher than creating instructor-led training, as the learning is reused the return-on-investment increases. Conversely, instructor-led training costs tend to remain the same or increase over time. So when discussing value, consider the cost and management annually but also determine whether its reusability, the consistency of message, and other advantages of the online learning are worth the investment by your