Upskilling, designed mainly for those already on the job, is the process of teaching employees new or additional skills. Upskilling, or reskilling, traditionally costs less than replacing employees with skilled new employees. With an expensive price tag and high stakes, upskilling has surged across organizations worldwide thanks to digital transformation. Several influences have caused this massive upskilling, including:

• Technology is now an fundamental part of many jobs. Additional training is needed to ensure that employees are productive
• Technology is rapidly changing. There is a rush to ensure skills are current to meet these technology shifts
• Digital skill gaps exist for some new employees. Many educational systems do not provide proper training for the skills necessary in today’s workforce
• Other skills are needed to support productivity and efficiency

 
This session will describe the comprehensive planning, design, and execution needed for upskilling. The challenge is to ensure that all components work seamlessly to generate positive results. Taking a systematic approach will allow you to successfully show the value that upskilling has delivered to the organization.
 
Objectives
After attending this session, participants should be able to:

1. Describe the need for upskilling
2. Identify the approaches for upskilling
3. Take steps to make upskilling focused and successful
4. Show the value of the upskilling project

 

Jack J. Phillips, Ph.D., chairman of ROI Institute, Inc., is a world-renowned expert on accountability, measurement, and evaluation. Former bank president, HR Executive, and learning manager, Phillips provides consulting services to Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit entities, and government and non-governmental organizations worldwide. He is the author or editor of more than 100 books, conducts workshops, and presents at conferences worldwide.

Jack has received several awards for his books and work. The American Society for Training and Development gave him the award, Distinguished Contribution to Workplace Learning and Development, and the Thought Leader Award (its highest award). The International Society for Performance Improvement presented Jack with its highest award, the Thomas F. Gilbert Award, for his contribution to human performance technology. The Society for Human Resource Management presented him with an award for one of his books and honored a Phillips ROI study with its highest award for creativity.

In 2019, Jack, along with his wife, Patti P. Phillips, received the Distinguished Contributor Award by the Center for Talent Reporting for their contribution to the measurement and management of human capital. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, and Fortune. He has been interviewed by several television programs, including CNN.