Has the training catalogue become the new problem to be addressed?
We’re hearing more and more that it should be scrapped to modernise training because it’s too rigid, top-down or not closely enough connected to the workplace…
But is the catalogue really the problem, or is it the way it’s used?
Because, yes, we could do away with a catalogue. That’s fairly easy. But creating a learning experience that is both useful, actionable and connected to the real world – well, that’s another story altogether.
The training catalogue: an outdated model or a way of using it that needs rethinking?
Fundamentally, the catalogue fulfils a very simple need: to make the training provision visible. What content is available? On what topics? For whom?
In principle, there’s nothing wrong with that. But in reality, the model has often strayed from its original purpose. In some organisations, the catalogue looks more like:
- a drop-down list of content
- with little context
- rarely linked to real-world work situations
- used more like a library than as a tool for professional development
As a result, we end up with staff who: consult it infrequently or use it without really taking ownership of it.
And this is precisely where the model begins to show its limitations.
Removing the catalogue: a false good idea?
Faced with this reality, some organisations are taking a radical step: scrapping the catalogue. Their intention is quite clear:
- to make learning more fluid
- more self-directed
- more integrated into work
But in reality, one might say that this raises another question.
Without a catalogue, what happens next? What comes after?
- less clarity on what’s on offer
- greater difficulty in finding your way around
- more random access to content
In other words, we’re fixing one problem only to create another, because learning, if it isn’t structured, can quickly become vague and ineffective.
What the catalogue still does very well
So, before we start questioning everything, there’s one very important thing to bear in mind: the catalogue isn’t useless. You could even say that, when used properly, it still fulfils some truly essential functions:
- Providing visibility
- Structuring the training provision
- Creating a point of entry
- Providing a common framework
In some complex organisations, this framework is far from being a mere detail. It is no longer the existence of the catalogue that matters most, but its lack of connection with reality.
What really needs to change in a training catalogue
If the catalogue no longer works as it used to, it is mainly because it is often conceived as a list rather than an experience.
Moving from a content-based approach to a needs-based approach
A traditional catalogue answers the question: “What training courses are available?”
A useful catalogue, on the other hand, answers a different question: “What do I need, right here and now?”
This means organisations need to structure their content:
- by role
- by situation
- by operational objective
We no longer navigate by topic, but by use.
Reconnecting the catalogue to the front line
Content only has value if it can be put to use.
If the catalogue remains disconnected from day-to-day reality:
- it is rarely consulted
- it is rarely used
- it is quickly forgotten
Conversely, when it is linked to real-life situations, it becomes useful.
And therefore used.
Moving beyond the catalogue as a “stand-alone resource”
Nowadays, not everything relies on modules. So the catalogue must no longer be a silo; it must be integrated into a wider learning ecosystem.
- quick access to resources
- peer-to-peer sharing
- feedback
- practical experience
Transforming the catalogue rather than scrapping it
The debate is certainly framed in the wrong way. Let’s not ask ourselves whether we should scrap the catalogue. Let’s ask instead how we can make it useful.
On reflection, this quickly becomes:
- a contextualised entry point
- a point of reference in a more complex environment
- a support for learning pathways and progression
And in this context, the LMS serves to:
- structure access to knowledge
- linking training to real-world practice
- provide ongoing support
The real issue is the learning experience
Whilst there may be debate surrounding the course catalogue, another question lies beneath it: how can we make training truly useful?
We could do away with the catalogue to move forward, but it is the whole fundamental transformation that needs to be rethought, in particular by focusing on:
- the context
- usage
- relevance
Conclusion
Should we remove the training catalogue? Not necessarily.
Should it be thoroughly overhauled? Definitely.
It is worth remembering that employees today expect a structure that makes sense.
And a useful catalogue is one that helps people find and use what is really needed, at the right time.
