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Have you previously written a boilerplate RFP (request for proposal) based on one courseware tool and /or a specific LMS?  When  I see course requirements like this, it screams ROOKIE PROJECT MANAGER, because this is a project doomed to FAIL.  Why? Because all the planning effort is focused on making training fit the tool, which is backwards, the focus should be on making the training product meet learner needs.

Just because a tool is trendy, does not mean it is the ONLY tool to use.  This is another of several reasons why so many eLearning projects FAIL to DELIVER on their basic promise of teaching. And honestly, I’ve normally don’t respond because these are the projects I get called into later for  “cleanup on aisle three”, because they were not designed properly in the first place.  

My thoughts… Limiting your project to a specific courseware tool to create lessons is like telling a home contractor that a hammer is the only tool that can be used to build your home?  Does that make sense?  Of course not.  And let’s be real, if  newbie eLearning project managers have NO experience developing complex training programs,  how would they know what tools to choose anyway? My advice,  you need an experienced eLearning project expert, not just a training developer to design your high-profile project AND help you achieve the best results possible. 

Also consider this… instead of thinking every training lesson needs to be delivered in an LMS, how about designing a flexible and expandable learning community organized with a collection of useful tools like checklists,  one-minute (YouTube like) videos, and internal discussion boards to help employees get real-life expert and peer support by sharing best-practices companywide.   And yes, the LMS has a place too, it’s a great way to offer basic training and record a final competency quiz.  

Remember, Adult learners come to a new workplace with varying skill levels. Effective eLearning is designed to be more than just a “one size fits all” lock-step set of LMS lessons with a quiz at the end.  Good eLearning engages and delivers knowledge, confidence, and skills to adult learners in a variety of ways to improve their workplace skills that drives more company revenue. 
But it all starts by using a process-driven approach to designing the program up-front. 

My #1 Recommendation:
The Design Phase is the KEY to starting your project process by:
• Producing your desired training outcomes
• Meeting On-Time schedule and On-Budget goals
• Setting expectations and project “rules” upfront
• Developing an approved roadmap with specific deliverables
• Getting buy-in from management and stakeholders upfront
• Considering an LMS-only alternative, like a Learning Community 

These are the key process steps I recommend to achieve guaranteed project success.  It’s the exact process my teams used to deliver 100’s of hours of custom corporate & public agency training projects On-Time & On-Budget since 2001.