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Aligning Training Goals with Organizational Business Objectives

Aligning Training Goals with Organizational Business Objectives

by Marcin Swierkocki | Apr 10, 2025 | eLearning, Learning Transfer, Short Knowledge Bits | 0 comments

Aligning Training Goals with Organizational Business Objectives

Do you prefer to listen to this article? Click below to access our AI-generated audio version!

Aligning Training Goals with Organizational Business Objectives

In my experience, aligning training with business objectives is one of the biggest challenges – it requires in-depth preparation for a training project, e.g. understanding the cultural aspects of the organization, the potential obstacles that stand in the way of implementing newly acquired skills, and acquiescence on the management to implement new habits.

Here are several proven strategies that I’ve found effective in enhancing knowledge transfer and ensuring that training delivers real business impact:

1. Encourage Practical Application During Training

Enabling practical application while running a course – Whenever possible, I integrate real-life, job-relevant exercises into the training sessions. This allows employees to practically apply new skills in a safe environment classroom. By working with scenarios that reflect their day-to-day challenges, they are better equipped to transfer those skills back to the workplace.

2. Create a Safe and Supportive Learning Environment

A safe and supportive environment – this means e.g. helping delegates translate theory into practice. Additionally, the trainer’s role is to promote a culture of continuous collaboration while managing a seminar. I encourage the sharing of knowledge and good practices immediately among the delegates.

Create a Safe and Supportive Learning Environment

3. Continuously Evaluate and Improve Training Effectiveness

Monitoring and improvement through regular evaluations. I monitor the effectiveness of knowledge transfer by feedback interviews during and after training sessions. This allows me to focus on continuous improvement of the training content and tailor future sessions more effectively based on real needs. This iterative process of refinement is crucial for maintaining relevance and maximizing the return on training investment.

4. Reinforce Learning Through Follow-Up Sessions

Sustainable learning doesn’t end when the training session concludes. We, at MDI Training, hold regular 2-hour follow-up sessions usually 4 to 6 weeks after the training to ensure continued development and to address any emerging challenges. These sessions help reinforce key messages, revisit challenging topics, and provide a platform for participants to share their implementation experiences. They are also an opportunity to clarify lingering questions and re-energize commitment to behavioral change.

Conclusion

Using the above strategies can significantly increase the effectiveness of skills knowledge transfer in an organization.

For more information, feel free to address me directly – marcin.swierkocki@mdi-training.com or send me a DM on Linkedin. I’d also love to hear your tips and experiences that support your training effectiveness.

Marcin Swierkocki

Marcin Swierkocki

Trainer, Coach & MDI Partner

Marcin Swierkocki works as an HR business consultant who has specialized in L&D, change- and project management. He brings over 25 years of international experience in change management and operational development with him. His personal motto is influenced by Viktor Frankl: ‘Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth…’. His personal inspiration comes from his optimistic and positive character and by draining the energy that successfully supporting others gives him.

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Weak vs. Strong AI: Unraveling the Myths

Weak vs. Strong AI: Unraveling the Myths

by Raphaela Pouzar | Jul 22, 2024 | eLearning, Leadership and AI, Short Knowledge Bits | 0 comments

 

Weak vs Strong AI – Unraveling the Myths

You prefer to listen to this article? Click here to access our AI-generated audio version:

Weak vs Strong AI – Unraveling the Myths

Artificial Intelligence has become an integral part of our daily lives, from virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa to recommendation systems on Netflix and Amazon. However, there remains a significant misconception that AI can do more than humans, including possessing human-like understanding and reasoning abilities. To clarify these misconceptions, it’s essential to distinguish between “weak AI” and “strong AI,” the two paradigms within AI research.

Weak AI vs. Strong AI

Weak AI, also known as narrow AI, is designed to perform specific tasks such as image classification, game playing, or speech recognition. These systems excel at their designated functions but cannot understand or infer the underlying causes behind the data they process.

They operate based on pre-defined rules and large datasets, showcasing behavioristic characteristics rather than true cognitive processes. For example, deep learning, a subset of weak AI, uses artificial neural networks to identify patterns and make predictions but does not possess true understanding or consciousness.

In contrast, strong AI, or artificial general intelligence (AGI), aims to replicate human cognitive abilities. This includes reasoning, understanding, and the ability to learn from experiences like humans. Strong AI is not just a tool for problem-solving but is envisioned to have actual mental states, consciousness, and the capacity for imagination.

Despite its theoretical appeal, strong AI remains an elusive goal, as current AI systems lack common sense and the ability to comprehend hidden processes behind the data they analyze.

Misconceptions about AI Capabilities

One major misconception is that AI can surpass human capabilities in all aspects. While AI systems can outperform humans in specific tasks, such as playing chess or Go, they do not possess the holistic understanding and cognitive flexibility inherent to human intelligence. Current AI, intense learning models, are adept at processing vast amounts of data to make predictions but do so without understanding the context or causality behind the data.

Moreover, the myth that AI is “all algorithms” oversimplifies its complexity. AI systems rely not only on algorithms but also on high-quality data, effective user interfaces, and interdisciplinary research. Reducing AI to just a set of algorithms ignores the broader context of its development and application.

 

Weak vs strong AI-2

The Practical Implications of Weak AI

Despite the limitations of weak AI, its practical applications are profound. Weak AI systems provide scalable, efficient solutions for handling big data and have become ubiquitous in various industries. From spam filters and recommendation systems to voice assistants and navigation tools, weak AI enhances our daily lives by automating and optimizing routine tasks.

The Elusive Goal of Strong AI

Strong AI, with its promise of human-like cognition and understanding, remains a topic of extensive research and debate. Some argue that to achieve strong AI, future research should focus on developing compositional generative predictive models (CGPMs) that mimic the human brain’s ability to infer and understand the causes behind sensory inputs.

However, the realization of strong AI poses ethical and practical challenges, including the risk of manipulation and the need for these systems to align with long-term, homeostasis-oriented purposes. However, the development of strong AI is still a distant goal.

Conclusion

Understanding the distinction between weak AI and strong AI helps dispel common myths about AI capabilities. While weak AI systems provide valuable tools for specific tasks, strong AI remains a theoretical concept, far from realization.

Acknowledging these differences is crucial for setting realistic expectations and guiding future AI research and development. As AI technology continues to evolve, it is imperative to focus on ethical considerations and ensure that these advancements serve to enhance human potential rather than overshadow it.

Butz, M. V. (2021). Towards Strong AI. Künstl Intell, 35(1), 91–101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13218-021-00705-x

Flowers, J. C. (2021). Strong and weak AI: Deweyan considerations. Künstl Intell. Retrieved from Worcester State University. jflowers@worcester.edu

Liu, B. (2021). “Weak AI” is likely to never become “Strong AI”, so what is its greatest value for us? arXiv preprint arXiv:2103.15294. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2103.15294

Nussbaum, F. G. (2023). A comprehensive review of AI myths and misconceptions. Review: AI Myths and Misconceptions (Version: October 31, 2023). Retrieved from frank@fgnussbaum.com

Raphaela Pouzar

Raphaela Pouzar

Marketing Team Assistant

Raphaela Pouzar, a Bachelor of Business Administration student at IMC Krems, works at MDI as a marketing assistant alongside her studies. Additionally, she is currently pursuing an AI certificate from Harvard Business School.

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Successful Team Building for Boehringer Ingelheim RCV

Successful Team Building for Boehringer Ingelheim RCV

by Anita Berger | Mar 29, 2024 | Customer Story, International leadership development, MDI Inside | 0 comments

Successful Team Building for Boehringer Ingelheim RCV

Do you prefer to listen to this article?

Click below to access our AI-generated audio version:

Successful Team Building for Boehringer Ingelheim RCV

In the interview with our MDI trainer and partner, Anita Berger

On June 29, 2023, around 85 participants gathered at the Casino Baden to participate in a team-building event for Boehringer Ingelheim RCV under the management of Csilla Ponner. A resounding success that not only strengthened team cohesion but also laid the foundation for an unforgettable Christmas edition on December 19, 2023, at the picturesque Schloss Laxenburg.

These outstanding events were accompanied by our experienced MDI trainer and partner, Anita Berger. In this interview, Anita, who worked closely with the key individuals on shaping content and concepts, provides us with insights into the success factors and inspiring moments of these special events.

Dear Anita, please introduce yourself briefly to our readers and mention the role you play in collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim RCV.

“Learn and act,” that’s what I stand for, and I want to contribute to moving and enriching individuals and organizations.

I’ve been working with Boehringer Ingelheim RCV for more than 10 years, in various roles and formats:

  • At large group events
  • In-process support for team development measures and workshops
  • In individual and team coaching
  • In training sessions on linear and lateral leadership topics.

Can you give us a brief overview of the successful team building for Boehringer Ingelheim RCV in June and December 2023?

What were the goals of the events?

We had specific thematic focuses derived from the strategic priorities of the business area for each event. The first event aimed at identifying additional ways to further improve effective communication and cooperation:

  • What influence does our mindset and perception have on our behavior and thus our interaction with others?
  • In the context of a communication boost: What are essentials for effective communication?

The second event focused on how to increase effectiveness in decision-making processes:

  • What influences the way we make decisions?
  • What (group) dynamics exist in decision-making processes?
  • What decision-making processes are involved? What strategies are needed for each?

For all topics, we developed easily applicable tools through concrete exercises that participants could easily integrate into their daily lives. Additionally, we had team-building activities for participants to experience the themes with a lot of fun.

The overarching theme for all events was “togetherness” and strengthening identification with the department.

 

How did the preparations for the events go? Were there any particular challenges you had to face?

I’d like to divide this question into:

  1. Coordination of content and design with the department
  2. Onboarding, content and delivery briefing, and alignment of the trainers who facilitated the breakout sessions.
  3. Onboarding and alignment regarding the team-building activities.

1. Coordination of content and design with the department

Preparations with the department were characterized by a very constructive and open exchange, as well as strong trust in ideas and suggestions. It was mainly about identifying suitable topics and designs to enable valuable and implementation-oriented learning for a very diverse group of participants.

Finding times for coordination was challenging, requiring high flexibility from all of us. The support from the assistant to the department head Sabine Herold-Gmaschitz was excellent, creating a perfect framework for successful events.

2. Onboarding, content and delivery briefing, and alignment of the trainers who facilitated the breakout sessions.

It was important to onboard the trainers well so that they had a good understanding of the organization, its challenges, and the participants, especially since the majority had not worked with this organizational unit before.

It was also about briefing them on the content and exercises, some of which they were not familiar with so that they felt well-supported. This led to a great exchange and a very productive collaboration among the trainers.

3. Onboarding and alignment regarding the successful team building for Boehringer Ingelheim RCV activities.

The focus here was mainly on framing the team-building activities so that the day was experienced as a cohesive flow.

Anita Berger

Anita Berger

MDI partner and trainer

Anita Berger is an executive coach, consultant, and trainer with a strong focus on leadership development in the VUCA/BANI world, design and facilitation of transformation processes and organizational culture development, as well as international human resources management. She is a co-owner and partner of MDI, Management Development International. With over 25 years of experience in management and leadership positions (including in the management of Coca-Cola Hellenic Austria & Slovenia & Konica Minolta Business Solutions) in various industries and company sizes, from medium-sized businesses to international corporations. Numerous contributions focus on leading virtual and hybrid teams, agile change management, organizational and leadership culture, as well as strategic talent management.
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How can I actively share knowledge as a leader?

How can I actively share knowledge as a leader?

by Anita Berger | Nov 11, 2022 | Leadership Tips, learning effectiveness, Learning Transfer | 0 comments

How can I actively share knowledge as a leader?

Knowledge management – I know that I know (nothing)

How do you deal with knowledge management as a leader? What do we really know and how can we use it to our best advantage? 

Mentoring & Knowledge Management

Our MDI partner Anita Berger focuses on mentoring and knowledge management. We asked her a few questions on this topic and came up with some exciting approaches.

You can find them here in this interview:

Anita Berger

Anita Berger

Executive Coach, Consultant, Trainer & Managing Partner MDI

Anita Berger is an executive coach, consultant and trainer specialising in leadership development and international human resource management. She is a partner of MDI Management Development International. For more than 15 years she has worked in management and leadership positions (among others as HR-
Director at Coca-Cola Hellenic and HR Manager at Konica Minolta Business Solutions).

  • LinkedIn

What is knowledge management as a leader or mentor all about?

What is behind explicit and tacit knowledge?


The active and conscious generation, the use and sharing of knowledge in organizations are decisive competitive factors. Managers and mentors make a relevant contribution to this. They can make knowledge available themselves, as well as create the framework and an environment that enables and promotes knowledge management.

Explicit Knowledge

Knowledge management seems to be easier when it comes to explicit knowledge. That is, when “we know what we know” and it is “only” a matter of making this knowledge available.

Tacit Knowledge

It becomes more challenging when it comes to tacit knowledge. Implicit knowledge is the kind of knowledge that we are not always aware of – where we don’t even know what we know.

The development of explicit and tacit knowledge can be vividly described using the following example from everyday life: In the beginning, we learn explicitly: traffic rules, shifting gears, operating the clutch, … Every single step is thought through consciously. After some time, we just “drive” – it has become implicit knowledge.

We cannot easily describe what or how we do something, how we came to a decision or how we acquired the knowledge.

How can we now succeed in making tacit knowledge available ?

What concrete tips do you have for this?


The STAR method
– often known as an interview technique in recruiting – as well as the Knowledge Management For Implicit Knowledge Canvas – both are methods/techniques to become aware of what you know as a leader or as a mentor, so that you can then share this very valuable knowledge.

How does the STAR principle work and how can we apply it?

The STAR interview method is an acronym and stands for

  • Situation
  • Task
  • Action
  • Result

The STAR interview method

If, as a mentor or leader, I want to pass on knowledge about how a particular customer project was won, a cultural initiative was successfully implemented, a critical discussion with challenging stakeholders was conducted in a solution-oriented manner, or even what was a real “fuck-up” in team leadership, the STAR interview method can help.

It enables us to identify more clearly what contributed to success or to recognize what needs to be done differently in the future. Thus, implicit knowledge becomes explicit again.

  • SITUATION: What was the initial situation? Who was involved? What were the general conditions?
  • TASK: What was your task/assignment? What did you want to achieve?
  • ACTION: What did you do concretely? What concrete steps did you take?
  • RESULT: What was the concrete result? What were the consequences? What results did you achieve?

How does the Knowledge Management Canvas help us?

The Knowledge Management Canvas provides a framework to identify where tacit knowledge may exist. It provides valuable starting points for active knowledge sharing through active engagement with the areas of the Canvas.

Knowledge Management – Tacit Knowledge Canvas

So how we can promote and share our knowledge is not too difficult. Often, it simply requires a more structured approach to share as a leader or mentor relevant information.

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A leadership novel for first-time leaders

A leadership novel for first-time leaders

by Vladimir Novac | Aug 22, 2022 | Leadership Tips, Training Insights, training new leader | 0 comments

‘Learn. Feel. Lead’ is a Must-Read

A leadership novel for the first-time leaders

that aims at coaching first-time leaders into effectiveness, through fictional situations and characters.

In other words, a self-development book within a fictional setting.

Introduction:

Luca is a sales representative in a company (Aurora Inc.) which is struggling to survive. You will meet a bunch of colourful, authentic, stressed-out characters.

Further to unexpected events, Luca is promoted into a leadership position, without any formal training or mentoring. From now on, Luca will face several challenges but will be helped along the way by odd, informal characters: a printer, a mother, a truck driver, a homeless person, and so on.

The idea behind this is that you never know what kind of disguise your teacher will take next. Every chapter offers a challenge and a solution, including its implementation. Luca learns that it is paramount to understand the expectations of his stakeholders, learn massively what needs to be learned, he needs to become effective in assessing his co-workers, giving them feedback, facilitating decision making, managing his bosses, understand what modern leadership is.

All that, at the same time, managing a challenging family life, and about to become a father for the first time.

About the author

​Vladimir Novac is based in Bucharest, Romania and works as top-executive leadership trainer and coach around the globe. He is certified NLP Practicioner and Change Indicator Analyst and especially dedicated to the topics of team development, self leadership, performance management and change. Inspired by a big personal mission, he is enriching the MDI world since many years with knowledge and passion.

Hello Vladimir,

thanks for taking the time to answer a few quick questions about your exciting new book!

First of all, of course, we want to know what motivated you.

Why did you write this book in the first place?

Of all leaders in any organization, new leaders go through the most challenging journey.

From agony to ecstasy, from sheer confusion to blinding clarity, the ups and downs of a first time leader are difficult to foresee, not only by the leaders themselves but also by their direct managers.

In my 20 years experience of working with leaders around the world, I have become familiar with their challenges and needs. And it is probably a good time to address them. Hence, the book.

Where or how can you apply the book well as a first-time leader?

I think that every leader can benefit from this book, although my primary target is first-time leaders.

The well-known and still very valid, concepts in the book, from stakeholders’ analysis to Tuckman’s stages of team development, are presented as a story, where theory becomes alive, a ‘3 D’ rendering of what a first-time leader can go through in the first months of their job.

Every theory is presented as a practical example – a stage with authentic characters that reveal themselves to you, dialogue after dialogue.

Can you draw important insights as HR and L&D from this book?

A former HR Manager myself, I am painfully aware of HR, and L&D’s struggles when it comes to ensuring that new leaders have what they need in order to succeed. I do not think there has ever been a more complex environment for a Leader than it is now… 

As a leader myself, the book addresses both the skill set needed for the first months in a leadership position as well as the mindset. While the skill set is easily acquired by most, mindset is less addressed: and it is exactly what we should be focusing on.

Mindset for first-time leaders

This book accounts for some of the thoughts, concerns, fears, as well as small victories, and epiphanies,  that new leaders can experience. 

I believe that this book can make a difference, can silently guide new leaders through the labyrinth of their everyday challenges. I believe that this book can support the growth of your future performers.

One leader at a time.

Download your copy of “Learn. Feel. Lead.

A leadership novel for the first-time leaders” now.

Or Check out our “Hybrid Leadership” guide:

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