SAP LS
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Contents |
Introduction
SAP LS (SAP Learning System) is SAP's Learning Management System. It is a component of SAP's Human Capital Management (HCM) suite of products, under the Enterprise Learning Management stream.
It is a big, industrial-strength package that can be used for managing all aspects of enterprise learning. Although it is in theory a stand-alone package, it is unlikely that many companies will consider using it if they don't already use some of SAP's other offerings (such as SAP R/3).
Key components
SAP LS provides the following functions
- A virtual classroom environment;
- A Learning Management System;
- A Portal;
- A content management environment;
- A learning program structuring environment;
- A reporting framework.
The virtual classroom environment
SAP LS is designed to support e-learning, via its virtual classroom environment (delivered via Adobe Connect). It is not intended for the delivery of 'traditional' classroom training (where the instructor is in the same physical room as the trainees). To conduct a traditional classroom session, the instructor would need to export all of the required material out of SAP LS, and then use that as a stand-alone presentation.
The Learning Management System
The LMS component of SAP LS uses web services to provide the following capabiilties:
- Trainee enrolment (and cancellation) on scheduled courses;
- Trainee waitlisting on courses not yet scheduled;
- Launching of a course conduct by the instructor and trainees;
- Recording of trainee progress.
The Portal
The Portal uses SAP Enterprise Portal, a Java-based environment.
Learners can:
- Identify mandatory courses for their role;
- Search for courses;
- Register for courses;
- Launch courses and attend e-learning sessions;
- View their training history.
Note that it is possible to set up SAP LS such that Managers need to approve all learner enrolment requests.
Instructors can:
- Display courses and course material;
- Manage course participants (enrol, deny, etc.);
- Launch and host an e-learning course;
- Manage class completion (attendance, tests, etc.).
The content management environment
SAP LS does not provide tools for creating or editing content. What it does provide is the ability to import and export content that has been created using other tools. This could be presentations created using Microsoft PowerPoint, Macromedia Flash objects, and so on.
The content management environment is also used for authoring tests (pre-course tests, post-course tests, checkpoints, and stand-alone tests).
The learning program structuring environment
Course material is typically assigned to a defined role. Users are also assigned to roles, and this relationship determines the courses that they can (or should) attend.
The learning program structuring environment is used to:
- Create an e-learning structure;
- Connect learning content to the e-learning structure;
- Check the content and structure into the master repository.
The reporting framework
The reporting framework allows standard reporting (courses attended by trainee, etc.) to be performed by Managers.
SAP LS also has the capability to interface with SAP BW (SAP's enterprise reporting application) which allows more detailed analysis, such as the ability to monitor training activities and monitor their effect on business performance (such as sales for an employee both before and after training).
