Case study: Blended learning in action

Kimberly-Clark leverages expert knowledge in the blend

The knowledge challenge of modern retail

In today's crowded retail markets, competition for prime shelf space is fierce. Global consumer products giant Kimberly-Clark is one company that sees learning as central to ensuring that it remains ahead of the competition in effective implementation of category solutions. But with a widely dispersed workforce, continual development of skills and capabilities for the company's category managers and analysts can be a considerable logistical challenge!

In addition, learning about category management within Kimberly-Clark has to address the needs of both new starters, who might have little knowledge of category management, and experienced category managers, who might need more 'fill-in' learning. Teams were also of different size in different territories, again leading to different needs.

Why blended?

Blended learning provided an ideal way to meet this challenge. Online learning content could fulfil the need for instruction in the core knowledge and skills of category management, freeing up specialist staff to provide a more consultancy-based service to the learners - leveraging the time and knowledge of the company's category management experts far more effectively.

A sophisticated blend design

Epic's experienced consultants provided support and blended design expertise to help Kimberly-Clark identify the most suitable blend of on- and off-line learning methods for this programme, as indicated below.

The blend comprised:

• E-learning content - (9 hours) including a mix of elementary and higher level content, comprising:
  • Learn: core knowledge, theory and methods
  • Apply: practical exercises/scenarios
• Diagnostic module: Your Training Path - (30 mins) to assess level of existing knowledge, identify gaps and indicate the individual's further route through the programme
• Case study exercises - to be completed offline, either as preparation for a workshop or as a standalone task submitted by email
• Workshops - 2 practical face-to-face workshops to help managers demonstrate successful application of category management techniques
• Project file - links to online knowledge resources to help complete tasks
• Portal - category management portal to house learning material

Epic also provided its Refresh maintenance tool so that the content could be updated inhouse.

Crucial to fulfilling the differing needs of the various target groups for this programme was the ability to take various paths through the material.

Exciting results

'We have been impressed by the care Epic took to understand the drivers and background to this project, and the innovative and solid thinking that underlies the solution produced. Category management is an important area of skills and knowledge for our company and I look forward to continuing to build on the work we have completed with Epic.'
Oliver Wright, Manager European Category Development - Kimberly-Clark

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See also:
Blended Learning at Epic

White papers:
Blended Learning
Blended learning in Practice