http://www.imc-learningworld.com/ imc AG de http://www.imc-learningworld.com/typo3conf/ext/tt_news/ext_icon.gif http://www.imc-learningworld.com/ imc AG TYPO3 - get.content.right http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/clix-2012-evolution-im-learning-und-talent-management/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/clix-2012-evolution-im-learning-und-talent-management/ Trusted vendor scores with open innovation, compliance readiness and hybrid cloud economics Trusted vendor scores with open innovation, compliance readiness and hybrid cloud economics The 2012 release of the tried and tested Learning and Talent Management System CLIX features a whole range of innovations and new functions! As a trusted solution, CLIX 2012 is available for open innovation and the implementation of efficient compliance measures, among other things, facilitating open learning cultures while also covering security specification requirements which the HR sector will need to deal with more frequently in the future. Mobile and social learning functionalities will also be developed further in a secure and efficient way. In the following interview, Dr Wolfgang Kraemer, CEO of IMC AG, has provided a glimpse into the product strategy and outlined the further development of CLIX.

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When a start-up company develops into one of the most internationally recognised companies in its sector, more than the continuation and maintenance of the foundation concept is behind the company's success. To be able to participate at the top of the market in the long term, brand awareness, a wealth of ideas and thinking outside of the box are essential. CLIX 2012, the current release of the Learning und Talent Management System which has been recognised for years, is proof that this is the strategy which has been adopted and implemented by IMC AG.
CLIX 2012 is packed with new content, options and expansions and is therefore a diverse HR tool which corresponds to the highest security standards. The CEO of IMC AG, Dr Wolfgang Kraemer, explains how this is possible in practice:
Dr Wolfgang Kraemer: "It is important to us that the requirements and user experience of our customers are the focus of product development. Open innovation is therefore a central topic for us: The ideas, requests and suggestions of customers are included in our market-driven development in all phases - from the idea until implementation. In this respect, sustainable customer confidence in a software company is a hugely important keyword. As a trusted vendor, we represent economic stability and guarantee the further development of our solutions for our customers. The long-term customer-supplier relationship therefore protects the investment made by our customers. Thanks to its highly modern quality and security standards, CLIX 2012 is the most secure Learning and Talent Management System on the market. I therefore also like to describe it as trusted solution.”
What does CLIX 2012 offer customers in terms of innovation highlights?
Dr Wolfgang Kraemer: “Social learning is a core element of CLIX 2012. Users can use informal course modes, develop their own content, make it available to others and also provide corresponding feedback. If you consider the extent to which Facebook, Twitter and similar networks have become part of our everyday lives, this was a logical step to take.
At the same time, the topic of compliance is becoming increasingly important among many of our customers. Learning progress needs to be controlled and documented. At first glance, it is natural to think that the open culture of social learning and the strict guidelines of compliance and data protection regulations are very contradictory. However, we set ourselves this challenge.
The fact that compliance training works with CLIX has been proven, for example, by one of our customers, die Mobiliar: The Swiss insurance company is required by law and regulations to provide their staff with regular training to make them aware of and inform them about adherence and the implementation of due diligence to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. CLIX enables Mobiliar to carry out the target group-orientated execution of basic training and further development modules with case examples for specific target groups, including tailor-made, detailed reporting, automatic correspondence and warning procedures. In this way, Mobiliar uses CLIX to significantly increase the efficiency of its compliance processes.
Furthermore, talent management is also an important focus in 2012. Options to depict the organisation structure and new types of talent profiles are only a few of the special features of CLIX 2012. Of course, professional career and succession planning, a comprehensive talent dashboard and individual talent development are also available. The CLIX Learning Suite is an integral element of the CLIX talent suite, but is also available as a stand-alone product.
Finally, a fourth core area of CLIX 2012 is mobile learning. Here it was also important for us to act closely in response to current developments in the market. Learning on smartphones and tablets is being increasingly taken for granted and is covered securely and reliably by CLIX. These dimensions of learning increase productivity and the accessibility of learners many times over.
CLIX is offered as an on-premises or SaaS model in the sense of hybrid cloud economics. Are both versions equally secure and reliable?
Dr Wolfgang Kraemer: “Of course. For our SaaS model, we have been using the Microsoft Cloud Windows Azure since 2012, which guarantees the highest security standards and international availability. We therefore have a flexible product on the market which can deal with all technical and financial hurdles without losing any quality or reliability! In fact, CLIX SaaS convinced Microsoft to such an extent that IMC will shortly be able to announce the receipt of the Microsoft Cloud4Society Award and Microsoft Silver Independent Software Vendor (ISV) competency.
What does the future look like for CLIX 2012?
Dr Wolfgang Kraemer: “We release innovation packs at regular intervals:
In the talent suite, for example, there will be even more functionalities for the improved depiction of lifecycles in a completely new and clearer form. The career and succession planning will also be expanded - from the development of comprehensive pools of suitable successor candidates to the categorisation of successor candidates in short, middle and long-term successors. This secures all key positions for the long term.
Detailed audience building and certification options in the field of compliance are another example of how CLIX supports companies in an even more profound way during the professional implementation of legal and voluntary measures.
In social learning, social assessment mechanisms are also offered in the form of polls, votes and ratings for trainers, tutors, learners, courses and content.  
In short: Look forward to more exciting developments!

]]> Tue, 15 May 2012 12:06:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/umstieg-leicht-gemacht/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/umstieg-leicht-gemacht/ With LIVECONTEXT, using Windows 7 and Office 2010 is child’s play With LIVECONTEXT, using Windows 7 and Office 2010 is child’s play Upgrading to a new operating system or the latest version of MS Office can be a headache for many a business, as training, induction, queries and user errors cause many staff to lose precious time from their day-to-day work. Informal knowledge transfer with compact, problem-based learning units enables greater efficiency when upgrading. LIVECONTEXT for Microsoft Office 2010 and Windows 7 provides users with tried-and-tested learning sequences both directly at the workstation and in context, thus making light work of acclimatising to a new working environment.

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Web statistics have shown that in the first quarter of 2012, a third of all Microsoft Windows users still had the XP version installed, by now already 10 years old. That said, more than 15% of all Windows PCs are running on Vista, which was already released in 2007. As a result, nearly half of all Windows users still have to face upgrading to the current standard, Windows 7. The picture for Microsoft Office solutions is similar: many companies have yet to upgrade to the current 2010 version.
In order to make the decision to upgrade easier for businesses and to offer practical support to staff in their subsequent work with these systems, IMC AG has now broken down the entire learning process into bite-sized pieces. Using tried-and-tested learning content as provided by their partners KnowHow! AG and video2brain GmbH, the LIVECONTEXT Performance Support System brings knowledge straight to the user's screen.
LIVECONTEXT automatically detects whether the user is working, for example, in Excel, Word, PowerPoint or Outlook and in which field the mouse is moving. On this basis, the exact learning sequences are provided to suit the current environment. Ad hoc cross-application processes such as the automatic dispatch of a Word document via Outlook can also be supported as a complete process for staff to learn. Various types of help are available, from interactive exercises to text information and videos.
In order to respond to individual learning requirements and knowledge levels, two versions of LIVECONTEXT are available for Microsoft Office 2010 and Windows 7: the upgrade user package is for companies and organisations who are upgrading from old Windows systems or Office applications to the latest versions; the new user package is for complete newcomers to Microsoft. An enhanced version of LIVECONTEXT also provides the option to add individual learning content.
“Any organisation implementing new software or a new operating system needs to ensure its members of staff are properly trained”, says Frank Milius, Executive Board Member at IMC AG. “However, instead of dragging users away from their day job with theoretical training, we are bringing knowledge straight to their screens. Staff do not need to have their work interrupted; they simply access the learning sequences when they actually need them. We call it learning-by-doing. Upgrading to Windows 7 or Office 2010 could not be any more efficient".
Further information is available on IMC’s website.

]]> Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:23:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/imc-ag-erhaelt-microsoft-silver-independent-software-vendor-isv-kompetenz/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/imc-ag-erhaelt-microsoft-silver-independent-software-vendor-isv-kompetenz/ IMC earns distinction through demonstrated technology success and customer commitment IMC earns distinction through demonstrated technology success and customer commitment IMC AG, one of the world’s leading providers of learning, talent and new media solutions, today announced it has achieved a Silver Independent Software Vendor (ISV) competency, demonstrating its ability to meet Microsoft Corp. customers’ evolving needs in today’s dynamic business environment.

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To earn a Microsoft silver competency, partners must successfully demonstrate expertise through rigorous exams, culminating in Microsoft certifications. And to ensure the highest quality of services, Microsoft requires customer references for successful implementation and customer satisfaction.
With over 15 years of experience and more than 1000 international customers who trust in IMC’s solutions for learning and knowledge management, the company has become an established player in the international learning and development sector. The SaaS model of IMC’s tried and tested CLIX Learning and Talent Management System operates on the Microsoft Cloud Platform Windows Azure and thus offers customers safe, highly available and individually scalable learning management.
“Being appointed as Microsoft Silver Independent Software Vendor (ISV) is a great honor to us, as only very few Microsoft partners worldwide achieve such a competency having attained the necessary degree of proficiency”, says Dr Wolfgang Kraemer, CEO of IMC AG. “This Microsoft Silver Independent Software Vendor (ISV) competency showcases our expertise in today’s technology market and demonstrates our knowledge of Microsoft and its products,” Dr Kraemer adds.
“By achieving a silver competency, organizations have proven their expertise in specific technology areas, placing them among the top 5 percent of Microsoft partners worldwide,” said Jon Roskill, corporate vice president, Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft Corp. “When customers look for an IT partner to meet their business challenges, choosing a company that has attained Microsoft competencies is a smart move. These are highly qualified professionals with access to Microsoft technical support and product teams.”
The Microsoft Partner Network helps partners strengthen their capabilities to showcase leadership in the marketplace on the latest technology, to better serve customers and, with 640,000 Microsoft partners in their ecosystem, to easily connect with one of the most active, diverse networks in the world.

]]> Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:30:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/hinter-die-kulissen-und-ueber-den-tellerrand/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/hinter-die-kulissen-und-ueber-den-tellerrand/ New IMC blog provides exciting insights and prospects blog from the provider of Learning and Talent Management and New Media deals with more than just company-based content on the new platform. In fact, more in-depth issues are to be discussed such as the significance of social media for HR management, digital developments in the classroom as well as ideas and theories on Employer Branding.

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How do companies meet the challenges of internal training? Is there an escape for HR officers from the vicious circle of recurring administrative tasks? And is it possible to survive today without a Smartphone?

The editorial team for the IMC blog has devoted itself to these and many other questions regarding Learning, IT, Edutainment, HR management and more, presenting exciting theories and concepts and describing Best Practice scenarios, such as the story of an e-learning manager for whom innovative learning technologies have become the decisive image issue for the company.

After the great success of IMC‘s German language data protection blog, launched in 2011, the new blog will provide a second platform for various HR, IT and New Media issues – topics that are some of the core competencies of IMC AG. An international team of bloggers from different departments such as Sales, Research, Marketing and Development will provide insights into their own personal thoughts, recount humorous stories and present current market developments for discussion.

The company invites you to be directly involved. Readers are asked to leave their opinions, questions or endorsements as comments – either as a guest or via their personal Facebook account – and in this way to get directly involved in dialogue with the authors.

Published since 3 April 2012, the blog has already included extracts from a variety of future topics: so read the first articles, which range from Mobile Learning and the War for Talent to Managed Services. The IMC blog can be found at www.blog.im-c.com.]]> Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:25:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/clix-saas-gewinnt-den-ersten-cloud-4-society-award-von-microsoft/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/clix-saas-gewinnt-den-ersten-cloud-4-society-award-von-microsoft/ IMC is overall winner in the established company-category CLIX SaaS runs on the Microsoft Cloud Windows Azure.

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Ralph Haupter, Chairman of the Board at Microsoft Germany, ceremoniously presented the new "Cloud 4 Society Award” prize to the winners. In this context, distinction was made in the overall standings between the "start-ups" and "established company" categories. The prize in the established company category went to the SaaS version of IMC’s Learning Management System, CLIX.
Around 70 companies had initially applied for the first Microsoft "Cloud 4 Society Award".  The panel of judges were looking for innovative cloud solutions with added value in society. Thus, the multifaceted CLIX Learning Suite, which enables small companies as well as start-ups to implement efficient training measures flexibly and reliably, convinced the panel. The SaaS LMS, which runs on the Microsoft Cloud Windows Azure and thus promises the greatest security and reliability, is met with great interest thanks to its versatility.
“The award makes us very proud. Not only because we could maintain ground with our cloud solutions over such a large number of competitors, but also because the corporate and social recognition of the prize appeals to us”, rejoices IMC’s CEO, Dr Wolfgang Kraemer.
Microsoft Germany wants to promote a culture of innovation with the new award and strengthen Germany’s position in this regard. A criterion which fully coincides with the objectives of the Scheer group that was founded by Professor August-Wilhelm Scheer and whose stand at this year's CeBIT was joined by IMC AG. “Owing to the latest technological developments – particularly in the cloud – the IT market is currently undergoing a shake-up. With our future-orientated learning solutions, we want to contribute to making Europe competitive again on the international stage", says Dr Wolfgang Kraemer.

]]> Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:49:00 +0100 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/microsoft-und-imc-gemeinsam-auf-wolke-7/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/microsoft-und-imc-gemeinsam-auf-wolke-7/ Strategic partnership between the Microsoft Cloud Platform Windows Azure and CLIX SaaS announced at LEARNTEC Strategic partnership between the Microsoft Cloud Platform Windows Azure and CLIX SaaS announced at LEARNTEC Today, Microsoft Deutschland GmbH and IMC AG announced their future partnership in the cloud computing sphere during a joint press conference at the international trade fair LEARNTEC. The SaaS model of IMC’s tried and tested CLIX Learning and Talent Management System will in future operate on the Microsoft Cloud Platform Windows Azure. Here, IMC draws on the expertise and reputation of Microsoft. Microsoft currently specifically selects leading companies from different industries as Cloud Service Partners for Windows Azure and, with IMC, has chosen a strong category leader in the e-learning area.

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“The Cloud is currently one of the most important topics for Microsoft. We want to demonstrate our strengths in this area by choosing selected industry leaders and providing support to them with our services. Here, we go by the motto ‘professionals rely on professionals’”, explained Ulrich Sawade, Senior Marketing Manager at Microsoft Deutschland GmbH at the joint press conference with IMC AG.
At the IMC stand at the 20th LEARNTEC, the leading international trade fair for professional training, learning and IT, the Microsoft representative introduced the future collaboration of both companies together with IMC’s CEO Dr Wolfgang Kraemer.
With the CLIX Learning Suite, one of the world’s leading learning management systems, companies, public institutions and universities have for years been efficiently implementing their further training measures. In combination with the powerful talent management tool CLIX Talent Suite which allows succession management, talent profiles, skill requirements and much more to be illustrated and organised on an extensive platform, the entire HR-development process is covered.
The cloud-version CLIX SaaS has experienced heavy demand since its introduction in 2010, especially with small and medium-sized companies and with newcomers to e-learning who particularly appreciate the possibility of implementing individually scalable training measures and smaller pilot projects in an uncomplicated manner. “CLIX SaaS is extremely flexible. The customer can always adjust the scope in the short term and thus, of course, the cost of the system at any time. This scalability offers companies a clear competitive advantage”, Dr Wolfgang Kraemer explained.
Through this collaboration with Microsoft and their use of the Microsoft Cloud Platform Windows Azure, IMC AG expects even more acceptance of the SaaS topic by customers. Reliability, transparency and high availability of the Microsoft Cloud were clear factors in opting for Azure.
“Microsoft is a major international player. We rely on the experience and the ability of this company”, said Kraemer. Ulrich Sawade added: “Particularly for companies like IMC that are progressing their internationalisation, it is important to focus on a cloud with global accessibility. Windows Azure can reliably provide this. A secure, stable cloud for a powerful and tried and tested HR tool!”]]> Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:25:00 +0100 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/imc-gewinnt-mcdonalds-als-neuen-kunden/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/imc-gewinnt-mcdonalds-als-neuen-kunden/ IMC’s e-learning modules support prospective shift supervisors with their training IMC’s e-learning modules support prospective shift supervisors with their training IMC AG, one of the world’s leading providers of learning, talent and new media solutions, has recently supported the training of McDonald’s Germany’s shift supervisors with an e-learning module. From existing learning folders which cover topics including food hygiene and product safety, IMC has created an individual e-learning course for its customer using modern formats. Following the first module which has already been supplied, further modules are currently being worked on.

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As part of a new overall concept, McDonald's Germany is focusing on digital learning to train its prospective shift supervisors and has commissioned IMC AG with the conceptualisation and technical implementation of the e-learning courses. The contents of the learning folders used so far have been transferred to an e-learning module which makes future learning even more diverse and enables employees to receive training at any time and in any location.
With the e-learning module covering ‘food hygiene and product safety’, recurring characters appearing in comic style and examples from everyday situations over several chapters create the right mix of educational fun and goal-orientated knowledge transfer. At the end, users get the opportunity to go through what they have learnt in the form of an overview.
With the conceptualisation of its new media content, the team at IMC attaches great importance to incorporating new formats and ideas over and over again. “Learning should be fun. We are happy to combine classic web-based trainings innovatively with a wide variety of modern media elements. Also, with the learning module for McDonald’s, it was important for us to render the contents creatively”, reports Dr Kathrin Bergenthal, Director of New Media at IMC. ]]> Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:18:00 +0100 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/awatmess-avetmiss/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/awatmess-avetmiss/ CLIX LMS Cleans Up AVETMISS Reporting CLIX LMS Cleans Up AVETMISS Reporting Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) in Australia are obliged to adopt the AVETMISS standard in their data reporting of vocational and educational trainings (VET). This has often been a complicated process using many systems and standalone tools. Now, RTOs finally do not have to worry about AVETMISS applications anymore: IMC’s comprehensive Learning Management System (LMS) CLIX now offers embedded AVETMISS features and therefore hits two birds with one stone!

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Russell Donders, Regional Director for IMC Australia and New Zealand, explains why IMC chose to implement AVETMISS elements into the CLIX LMS: “Enquiries from existing and potential customers on the AVETMISS compatibility of CLIX led us to investigate the possibility of developing an AVETMISS module. Our investigation identified a potential gap in the marketplace for a fully featured Learning Management System that offers integrated AVETMISS reporting. This provided us with a great opportunity to offer a product the market obviously wants and needs.”
The CLIX Learning Management System (LMS) is a powerful enterprise level all-in-one platform that combines organisation and content management, a learning catalogue, social learning, resource planning, compliance conforming test and certification possibilities; as well as talent management and succession planning functions. Now the new AVETMISS module for CLIX LMS has been launched. Russell Donders further expresses: “Despite an impressive array of existing features in CLIX, the AVETMISS module is a perfect addition that proves to be a hit with RTOs all over Australia”.
The new CLIX AVETMISS module is set to especially benefit RTOs who decide to provide and organise their training offerings with the CLIX LMS as they will not have to concern themselves with the questions of how to follow AVETMISS requirements anymore: All data fields required by AVETMISS are available as standard in CLIX, information is captured organically during the learning process, and all NAT Files (i.e. files that training organisations need to provide to the Government) are simultaneously exported in a single click. This makes reporting VETs enormously easy and dramatically reduces administrational effort.
CLIX LMS is available as either an on-premise solution or in a SaaS (Software as a Service) model which provides RTOs with greater flexibility at an affordable price. All CLIX packages are fully customisable in terms of appearance and feel to fully suit the client’s needs.
imc information multimedia communication AG is a worldwide acknowledged provider of learning and talent management solutions with its headquarters in Germany and multiple offices around the globe; including a new office in Melbourne’s St. Kilda Road business precinct offering sales, consulting and support. Press Contact Australia & New Zealand:
Paul Fuller
Marketing Communication Manager
Tel. +61 03 9869 7121
Fax +61 03 8648 5921
eMail paul.fuller@im-c.com.au]]> Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:01:00 +0100 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/wpp-tritt-fuer-mehr-sicherheit-in-punkto-datenschutz-ein/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/wpp-tritt-fuer-mehr-sicherheit-in-punkto-datenschutz-ein/ WPP agents opt for e-learning course “Data Protection and Information Security” provided by IMC AG WPP agents opt for e-learning course “Data Protection and Information Security” provided by IMC AG The international media company WPP has provided support for seven agencies in its network in the form of Web Based Training (WBT) on the topic of data protection and information security. The e-learning course is delivered by IMC AG and informs staff about the many online and offline sources of risk. Access to the WBT and an ongoing training evaluation by data protection representatives are managed via the Learning Management System “CLIX Learning Suite”, which also originates from the company IMC.

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The topic of data protection is a top priority for advertising and communication agencies when dealing with sensitive staff and customer data. To ensure that the employees are fully informed at this stage, companies in the WPP Group will train their staff in the future using the IMC e-learning course “Data Protection and Information Security”.
The WPP Group, which has a total of around 138,000 members of staff, is one of the world’s largest media and communication companies. Seven of the agencies in the WPP Group have decided to use IMC’s WBT for their further internal data protection training. The course consists of 14 individual modules which each take around 15 minutes.
WPP uses the tried-and-tested learning platform CLIX Learning Suite for the provision and organisation of the learning materials.
IMC was able to fulfil the agencies’ request to display independent organisations in a system due to the comprehensive client, group and release configuration in CLIX. This enables them to accurately determine which access rights and functions are available for specific individuals. The agencies can work organisation-independently and across all organisations. Depending on the didactic concept, this allows collaborative work and enables knowledge to be transferred among the individual organisations.
The WWP Group has covered some of the costs of this training project, thereby offering the participating agencies fundamental support. The agencies involved are
-    Ogilvy & Mather Group
-    The Brand Union GmbH,
-    Millward Brown Germany GmbH,
-    Syzygy Group,
-    Grey G2 Group
-    Etecture GmbH
-    WPP Service GmbH
-    Kinetic Worldwide Germany GmbH
-    WPP Marketing Communications Germany B.V.

“We offered our companies this e-learning project because we are convinced that besides face-to-face training this form of training is particularly effective", explain Barbara Deptalla and Liane Amend, who are responsible for data protection and data security at the WPP Group. “A well-developed data protection strategy is one of the most important quality features of a reputable advertising or media agency. It is therefore very important to us to familiarise as many members of staff as possible with the topic. The diverse learning course provided by IMC and the intuitive CLIX platform will provide us with the desired results."

]]> Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:25:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/neue-interview-reihe-10-fragen-zu/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/neue-interview-reihe-10-fragen-zu/ Part one: 10questions about HTML5 Expert Interviews in HR, IT and Business:
IMC AG answers the burning questions Current: 10 questions about HTML5 IMC AG publishes expert interviews in a new series, which discuss current trending topics in areas such as personnel development, IT, e-learning, cloud computing, workplace support, etc. Specialists answer practice-orientated questions and share their expertise with a wider audience.

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The first part of the new interview series is focused on the new internet standard HTML5. Matthias Prinz, Consultant Content Services at IMC, explains the advantages and disadvantages of the new programming language, stumbling blocks which have not yet been overcome and the exciting opportunities offered by HTML5.
The topic is discussed both from the point of view of programmers and developers, and that of less technically minded end users.
The entire interview is available to read online and can be downloaded as a PDF.

]]> Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:03:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/imc-gewinnt-alliade-zorggroep-als-kunden/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/imc-gewinnt-alliade-zorggroep-als-kunden/ CLIX Learning Management System to be the new qualification platform at Alliade CLIX Learning Management System to be the new qualification platform at Alliade IMC AG, a leading provider of e-learning and talent management solutions, is to implement its CLIX Learning Management System (LMS) at Alliade Care Group, a Dutch network of Health Care organizations. With IMC’s CLIX LMS, all employees can access their learning anytime, anywhere.

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Alliade Care Group coordinates independent trusts in the healthcare sector that work together in a partnership. Being spread across the district,it has always been a challenge for Alliade to educate staff in face-to-face training sessions. Alliade is aware that qualified staff in the care sector is a key competitive advantage in the market, so they decided to set up an elearning environment that allows all employees, and especially careworkers, to learn at any place and at any time. CLIX was chosen as the new Learning Management System (LMS) to provide e-learning content to approximately 5.000 users at Alliade CareGroup. The LMS allows administrators to manage learning groups and courses. Learners can organise their learning schedule and interact withother users. IMC AG plans to implement the system within the next months, together with the Dutch partner Tracoin. The e-learning content will be produced byAlliade, who will be using the authoring and content creation products POWERTRAINER and LECTURNITY. IMC is looking forward to this interesting project.]]> Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:16:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/zwei-fliegen-mit-einer-klappe/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/zwei-fliegen-mit-einer-klappe/ Promising partnership between IMC AG and Blue Lanes B.V. Promising partnership between IMC AG and Blue Lanes B.V. The Dutch BPM and e-Learning company Blue Lanes B.V. has started a partnership with IMC AG, Europe’s leading provider of learning-, talent- and content-solutions. Blue Lanes added IMC’s internationally perceived learning and talent tools CLIX, POWERTRAINER and LIVECONTEXT as well as their whole range of standard and bespoke content modules to its offerings. IMC and Blue Lanes are very optimistic about their collaborate operations on the Dutch and Belgian market.

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“It is a very promising partnership: IMC wishes to further expand in the Netherlands and in Belgium, while Blue Lanes wants to extend its product portfolio. Working together really hits two birds with one stone”, Dr Wolfgang Kraemer, CEO at IMC AG, explains the forward-looking step the two companies took recently.
Blue Lanes is an ambitious company, founded by Drs Mark H.C. Straathof who – before starting his own company – worked as Vice-President Benelux Consulting at the former BPM consulting company IDS Scheer AG. Just like IMC AG, IDS Scheer was founded by Professor August-Wilhelm Scheer, whose business network Scheer Group GmbH now brought IMC and Blue Lanes together. The goal is to serve Dutch and Belgium companies as well as organisations from the public sector with tools and content for learning, talent management and performance support.
“From the broad portfolio of IMC I expect great opportunities to serve my customers with a complete process oriented Human Resources strategy. The diverse products have very convincing references”, says Mark Straathof.
IMC sees a great benefit in the partnership as the Blue Lanes Director knows the Dutch and Belgium market like the back of his hand. Furthermore, IMC’s products fit in perfectly with the BPM portfolio offered by Blue Lanes. For instance, LIVECONTEXT was designed to support users when working with different new applications after the implementation of a redefined BPM strategy. And with IMC’s ARIS2CLIX converter, creating e-learning content from existing business process models becomes incredibly easy.
IMC and Blue Lanes now opened a joint representative office above the Central Station in The Hague. Find out more about the two companies and the products on the websites of IMC and Blue Lanes.

]]> Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:01:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/kostenloses-whitepaper-erlaeutert-innovative-lernformen/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/kostenloses-whitepaper-erlaeutert-innovative-lernformen/ Microlearning as an effective approach to user acceptance of new software roll-out programmes Microlearning as an effective approach to user acceptance of new software roll-out programmes When new software is introduced into a company and business processes are redefined, this normally leads to major adjustments for the affected employees:  they must learn to operate the new systems and internalise the procedures. What seemed perfectly reasonable during software training suddenly becomes a stumbling block during the actual application! The acquired knowledge has dissipated. So-called microlearning counteracts this effect. IMC AG, Europe’s leading provider of learning, talent and content solutions has now published a free whitepaper on this subject.

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“What was that again – which button do I have to click on next?” Users ask themselves these and similar questions over and over again when they are confronted with the system following the launch of new software and when the knowledge from their initial training seems to have vanished almost completely. Research shows that users can only reproduce around 30% of the learned material 24 hours after software training. An additional factor is that, in practice, new questions will emerge that have not previously been addressed. Frequently, the consequence is a very time-consuming search for solutions: both the Internet and thick manuals are sifted through, colleagues are consulted for advice or trial-and-error methods are applied.
The alternative to such - clearly less profitable - training methods is bite-size learning: microlearning provides the user with context-related information during the actual application of the software. This type of informal learning is highly effective as precisely those problems are solved which the user is currently grappling with in his work. Electronic Performance Support Systems (EPSS) implement microlearning in a practical way and draw upon the most varied internal and external sources of information.
The whitepaper entitled "Electronic Performance Support - Microlearning as an effective approach to user acceptance of new software roll-out programmes ", which IMC AG has made available for a free download, illustrates how informal learning leads to more successful learning in practice and identifies, amongst other things, which criteria are decisive for companies when selecting a performance support system.
The whitepaper can be downloaded for free here.
Also, a demo video of the Electronic Performance Support System LIVECONTEXT is available on YouTube.

]]> Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:25:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/imc-elearning-spiel-erhaelt-begehrtes-comenius-siegel/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/imc-elearning-spiel-erhaelt-begehrtes-comenius-siegel/ "Hanna and Leo" are not only "super-healthy" - now they are prize winners, too "Hanna and Leo" are not only "super-healthy" - now they are prize winners, too IMC AG was awarded the coveted Comenius EduMedia Award in the category didactic multimedia products on Friday, 24.06.2011. The prize winner is the story-based digital learning game "Rundum gesund mit Hanna und Leo" ("Healthy Living with Hanna and Leo"), which IMC developed for Saarland's Ministry of Trade and Science to be used in education at primary schools in the Saarland/Germany. The Comenius Award was presented for the 16th time in 2011 by The Society for Pedagogy and Information (Gesellschaft für Pädagogik und Information e.V. (GPI)).

The Comenius Awards are highly regarded across Europe as the most highly-respected prizes for educational media such as DVDs, internet portals and digital learning games. An international panel of experts assesses the nominated products and services on the basis of didactic and scientific criteria and also evaluates the pedagogical content, creative implementation and usability.
The award-winning project is a browser-based learning game starring the young protagonists Leo and Hanna. In a total of 18 short stories, children discover how Hanna and Leo master a wide range of everyday situations. The topics reflect the typical lives of primary school children and include healthy eating, brushing your teeth, adequate media consumption and how to choose the right protective clothing when playing sports. The two cartoon figures frequently interact with their audience and formulate tasks on the screen which the children can work with interactively.
The e-learning game was developed for the Ministry of Trade and Science in Saarland. Leo and Hanna have now received an award from the Society for Pedagogy and Information (Gesellschaft für Pädagogik und Information e.V. (GPI)) in the field of "Computer Games with the potential to develop skills".
The Comenius Award was ceremoniously presented to each prize winner during the award event on 24.06.2011 at the Haus des Deutschen Handwerks (House of German Craft Trades) in Berlin. Dr Kathrin Bergenthal, Director of Content Services at IMC AG, accepted the certificate on behalf of the entire project team. "We are extremely proud to receive this recognised prize" she says. "The Leo and Hanna learning game was a particularly enjoyable project for us and it is wonderful to see that the results, both in terms of content and implementation, have met the approval of such an expert panel of judges."
"Healthy Living with Hanna and Leo" is not only ideal to use during school lessons but also for the after-school supervision of primary-aged children. A personal impression of the learning stories is available at IMC’s Homepage (in German). For those interested, more details about this e-learning product are available directly from IMC AG at info@im-c.de or by calling +49 681/9476-0.

]]> Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:31:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/imc-ermoeglicht-elearning-bei-maven-training/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/imc-ermoeglicht-elearning-bei-maven-training/ Project managers learn with CLIX Project managers learn with CLIX IMC (UK) Learning Ltd, Europe’s leading provider of e-learning, talent and content solutions, today announced that, as part of the continuous drive to support the learning experience of project managers, Maven Training has chosen IMC’s CLIX as its new corporate learning management system (LMS).   Providing high quality and consistent support to all users is standard at Maven and the latest CLIX LMS technology will ensure that delegates get that support before they even enter the classroom.

By using this collaborative environment delegates have instant access to people, content and activities.  The CLIX Learning Management System is a flexible and very powerful application allowing access to all pre-course materials from the moment delegates are booked on a course, giving them more time to prepare. This includes a plethora of useful information including sample examination papers, online quizzes and candidate guidance from the examining bodies, etc., allowing delegates to familiarise themselves with the subject and prepare questions in advance.  The launch of new supporting e-learning modules designed to aid exam preparation also gives users the freedom to use the system in a way that complements their own learning.
"A comprehensive, integrated and coherent focus on technology-enhanced learning has been our goal and this launch is a huge step in the right direction" says Melanie Franklin, CEO at Maven.  "I am extremely pleased with the results so far and planning is now well underway for improved transfer of knowledge and enriching the level of interaction", she continues.
"Since learners have become self-motivated and independently decide where, when, and what to learn, I believe they will appreciate the flexibility this system brings.  Striving for the kind of experiences our delegates desire and increasingly need is an ongoing aim for me", says Barbara Pouw, Application Support Manager at Maven.
The project managers of IMC (UK) LEARNING LTD – a subsidiary of the German IMC AG under local direction of Dr Dirk Thissen – are happy to support Maven who has a very clear vision of what it wants to achieve.]]> Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:37:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/department-of-health/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/department-of-health/ Major e-learning for Healthcare (e-LfH) programme up and running successfully on CLIX Major e-learning for Healthcare (e-LfH) programme up and running successfully on CLIX Sevenoaks, 12th May 2011 – CLIX and IMC’s team of consultants have helped e-LfH to deliver one of the most ambitious LMS projects seen in the UK in recent years. The project’s aim is to deliver 6,000 hours of e-learning materials to healthcare professionals across the National Health Service (NHS).

Following the successful launch of the service, the e-LfH team is now actively using CLIX to meet the educational needs and requirements of all medical professionals and those in associated disciplines across the NHS – from single projects to multiple e-Learning solutions.
Dr Dirk Thissen, managing director, IMC (UK) Learning comments: "The scale of this project is immense and will change the face of learning throughout the Department of Health. This is truly one of the most significant LMS projects in recent years and IMC is proud to be part of such an undertaking by the UK Government."
The e-LfH team required a hosted, enterprise-scale learning management system (LMS) that could be integrated with complex NHS wide corporate networks and systems. In addition, the team needed a system that is intuitive and user friendly, as well as technical and consultancy services to ensure the project ran smoothly.
Alan Ryan, national programme director at the e-LfH comments: "After carefully reviewing a number of LMS platforms, IMC clearly stood out as capable of offering the learning management system we needed and the expertise in large scale implementation management and consultancy critical to the success of this ambitious project. Now 2 years into a five year contract the CLIX platform has proven itself capable of meeting the e-LfH project’s complex needs."]]> Thu, 12 May 2011 14:13:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/imc-ag-ein-visionaer-im-magic-quadrant-fuer-corporate-learning-systems/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/imc-ag-ein-visionaer-im-magic-quadrant-fuer-corporate-learning-systems/ Good positioning by US market research company The US market research company Gartner Research has recognized IMC AG as a visionary in its current “Magic Quadrant for Corporate Learning Systems (CLS)”. *
"We believe the positioning as a visionary in the Corporate Learning Systems segment by Gartner confirms the innovative capabilities as well as the product and service strategy of IMC AG to be able to deliver a demonstrable return on investment for our clients", reports Dr Wolfgang Kraemer, CEO of IMC. The evaluation of the supplier is based on criteria concerning the completeness of the vision, for example market knowledge, product and industry strategy as well as ability to execute.
Together with the founder as well as the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of IMC AG and President of the industry association BITKOM, Prof Dr Dr h.c. mult. August-Wilhelm Scheer, IMC AG continues to promote internationalisation. "Since the beginning of 2011, we have established a physical presence in France as well as in Finland. We are also planning to open a site in Denmark later this year. So, IMC’s position as leading provider of learning technologies in Europe could be successfully expanded", declares Kraemer.
Companies must counter the demographic change. Searching for and developing talent, employee retention, succession planning and efficient further education and training are more than ever central management tasks in order to ensure the innovative capability. "This is the purpose of IMC AG’s product and service strategy" continues Kraemer. "Whether Learning Management, Social Learning, Mobile Learning, Talent Management, Performance Management or creation of learning content and providing consultation on it – IMC offers an extensive portfolio of IT solutions in the human resources field. Over and above that, our customers benefit from our expertise as a software as a service (SaaS) provider. IMC not only knows how to operate the technical infrastructure as learning cloud but also how to support the operational training processes as HR outsourcing partner."    
IMC currently exhibits innovative power through its new release of LIVECONTEXT which makes introducing new software in the company considerably easier as assistants like podcasts, handbooks and Wikis are made available directly within the relevant application. Thus, the most varied of technical options like classic help texts, social media components and training videos are linked together without media disruption.
*Gartner, Inc., Magic Quadrant for Corporate Learning Systems, Jeff Freyermuth et al, March 24, 2011.
Magic Quadrant Disclaimer
The Magic Quadrant is copyrighted 2011 by Gartner, Inc. and is reused with permission. The Magic Quadrant is a graphical representation of a marketplace at and for a specific time period. It depicts Gartner’s analysis of how certain vendors measure against criteria for that marketplace, as defined by Gartner. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in the Magic Quadrant, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors placed in the “Leaders” quadrant. The Magic Quadrant is intended solely as a research tool, and is not meant to be a specific guide to action. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

]]> Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:24:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/imc-und-die-starken-maenner/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/imc-und-die-starken-maenner/ Gateway to the Scandinavian market with new office in Finland Gateway to the Scandinavian market with new
office in Finland Saarbrücken, 24th March 2011:
Europe’s leading supplier of learning, talent and content solutions, IMC AG, recently started its expansion into Scandinavia opening up its own office in Hämeenlinna, around 100km north of Helsinki, Finland. The basic conditions for market launch are favourable: Finland achieved clear economic growth in 2010. In addition, thanks to its membership of the "Association of Finnish elearning
Centre", IMC is not an unknown entity in the Finnish e-learning market. By mid 2011, a further site in Denmark will follow the Finnish market entry. After opening an office in France, Finland is the second new site that IMC can proclaim in 2011. Country Manager Claus Günther who is responsible for the Finish market expansion can fall back on his vast experience in the B2B market. Furthermore, he has a professional expertise in the area of talent management. "Mr Günther is just the person for this task. He has known the Finnish market for years. In addition, talent management will be one of the most important segments in the IMC product portfolio in 2011", explains Dr. Wolfgang Kraemer, CEO of IMC.
Finland offers IT companies like IMC ideal conditions for market entry. Besides the current economic growth and a general affinity to technology, Finland‟s position in the global top 10 of the e-readiness rankings – i.e. the conditions in a country for the application of information technology and telecommunications – also pave the way for successful expansion.
IMC‟s membership in the "Association of Finnish e-learning Centre" fosters the desired success of the new location in Finland. The independent, national association combines knowledge and a range of services on the topic of e-learning and is thus a top point of contact for many companies, institutes and organisations when searching for suitable solutions as well as contacts within the industry. Indeed, IMC can record its first successes in Finland: The presentation recording tool LECTURNITY is already used by two customers. And on top of that, its first local partnership has been formed: Mobile learning applications from IMC will be marketed in cooperation with a well-established supplier of mobile learning strategies in the future.
"We are extremely satisfied with the developments in Finland to date", says Dr. Dirk Thißen, IMC's Regional Director Northern Europe. "The business opportunities for IMC's product range look more than promising in this region from our perspective. We are therefore looking to the future with great
optimism".
Expansion into the "Nordic" market will not stop with the new office in Finland. A site in Denmark is due to follow by the middle of this year. The IMC office in Finland can be reached at the following address:
imc information multimedia communication AG
Saarnitie 16
13210 Hämeenlinna
Tel. +358 50 555 1110 ]]> Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:21:00 +0100 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/livecontext-loest-anwenderprobleme/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/livecontext-loest-anwenderprobleme/ Context-aware computing is also a major trend in learning technology *More information available in German]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:36:00 +0100 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/clix-fuer-mobile-devices/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/clix-fuer-mobile-devices/ IMC presents "CLIX Learn&Go" POWERTRAINER for Android Tablets
Users are becoming increasingly unwilling to carry heavy laptops around with them for working, studying or entertainment. Instead, stylish smartphones and handy tablets are the latest thing, and their use is set to increase thanks to apps from Apple. CLIX Learn&Go is such a mobile application, or app. It communicates directly with the CLIX system and provides a customised learning environment. There are 'location-based services' to provide location-specific information, for example, the courses available in a particular area.
In an academic environment, students can view their courses, media and current course messages at a glance, access participant lists and transfer course appointments to their calendar system. It also allows lecturers to inform students of room or time changes at short notice through "CLIX Learn&Go". Another idea is that students could also use their smartphones to take part in spontaneous votes during lectures, even if they are not in the room.
Of course, this kind of scenario is also very interesting for travelling sales representatives. "We are already working on initial projects from the corporate sector," confirms Kraemer.
iPhone, Android and Windows Mobile operating system: learners can get the information they need sent directly to their mobiles, for example, information on courses, media or time changes. "Location Based Services" can even be used to find out about the courses available in their current location. This application is particularly useful for supporting sales representatives within an organisation, as it means they can take their personal learning environment with them wherever they go.

POWERTRAINER is also mobile
Swiping, zooming, rotating – you can do it all with courses based on the IMC POWERTRAINER authoring tool. In the latest Release 3.9, self-created media can be displayed and published on Android-based tablets and smartphones. IMC has developed its own design (known as a 'skin') to guarantee optimum display of the courses on the relevant mobile device. The limited space available on portable computers is maximised to allow effective, convenient learning on the go.]]> Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:22:00 +0100 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/multiple-client-wins-strengthen-imc-in-the-uk-2010-was-a-great-success/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/multiple-client-wins-strengthen-imc-in-the-uk-2010-was-a-great-success/ Multiple client wins and a major industry award in 2010 set IMC (UK) Learning Ltd on course for further expansion in the UK in 2011 Sevenoaks, 4th December 2010 – With multiple client wins for both its Learning Management System CLIX and bespoke content development services, e-learning solutions provider, IMC (UK) Learning Ltd, announces that its success in 2010 has set it on course for further growth in the UK in 2011. Sales & Marketing Director Gareth Walters says: “2010 saw significant growth in contracts for bespoke e-learning content in the areas of finance, telecommunications technologies and healthcare. These contracts came in addition to multiple client acquisitions for our CLIX LMS in the shipping, construction, defence, healthcare and management training sectors and the contract extension for a further 24 months at the Fire Service College. These new clients have helped us to consolidate our position as a full service provider of e-learning in the UK and are the collective platform for our continued growth in 2011.” On top of its commercial success IMC gained a further accolade at the 2010 E-Learning Age Awards by winning GOLD in the category Best Online or Distance Learning Project. IMC’s submission was made jointly with its first client in the UK, the Fire Service College. The specialist Hazardous Materials and Environmental Protection course was losing its appeal and its customers and was rejuvenated by a stimulating mix of online delivery and online tutor support. Gareth Walters adds: “All in all IMC had a very good year in 2010. In order to remain competitive and to stimulate further growth IMC is recruiting for both its sales and consultancy units in the UK.” IMC (UK) Learning Ltd will be showcasing it’s CLIX Learning Management System and bespoke content production skills at the Learning Technologies Show at Olympia in London. ]]> Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/lafarge-asia-wuerfelt-mit-der-imc/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/lafarge-asia-wuerfelt-mit-der-imc/ The board game “Jungle Game” sensitises data security
Careless clicking on emails from an unknown source, confidential documents going to the communal printer, careless handling of passwords, unlocked screens when leaving the office, - many companies contend with such inattentiveness from their staff.
With the training offensive designed and implemented by IMC, Lafarge Asia Sdn. Bhd. is now taking a new approach.   One particular challenge was the different learning cultures in the relevant Lafarge regions within Asia. Whilst Chinese employees attach great importance to written information, Indian and Philippine representatives cherish verbal exchange in group discussions.  Other nations, on the other hand, accept both forms of teaching, but, for the most part, have to be motivated to share their experiences with others.  It is exactly this point that IMC has addressed.
No barrier for anyone and one way for everyone
“We have devised a multi-level concept in order to include all those involved”, explains Dr. Kathrin Bergenthal, Director of Content Services at IMC. “In a half-day face-to-face training, Lafarge employees were informed about the background of the campaign; they could test the game, debate selected security aspects in a group setting and then discuss the results. Thus, everyone gained access to the learning objective.” Particular interest was aroused in the DIN A2 “Jungle Game”, in which two to six players play using a dice.  In total, 100 questions on IT security are formulated on quiz and duel cards. Five points are gained for each correct answer; the winner is the person who is the first to collect 20 points or gold coins. “The approach of packing technical issues into an emotional game has proved very successful for achieving the learning objectives.”, clarifies Bergenthal. When designing the game, the content team at IMC were inspired by the typically tropical jungle of the region: mosquitoes and leeches represent computer viruses and worms, rain clouds establish a connection to Cloud Computing, cobwebs illustrate weaknesses in IT networks and a bus trip in the jungle emphasizes “Shoulder surfing”, the spying of screen contents “over the shoulder” of the user.      
The game has been released in the original English version, but also in Japanese, Thai, Korean, Vietnamese and Indonesian, as well as Mandarin.  “We have tackled the technical challenges with a lot of creativity and thereby the intercultural differences of the target groups are taken into consideration in a methodical and didactic manner, in such a way that the overall concept can be applied throughout the entire Asian region".]]> Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:45:00 +0100 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/livecontext-und-die-hilfe-kommt-sofort/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/livecontext-und-die-hilfe-kommt-sofort/ New release offers sophisticated user support IMC is especially proud of the function that currently no EPSS apart from LIVECONTEXT offers: validation of entries in real-time.  USP: Validation of entries in real-time Up until now LIVECONTEXT had offered users software that was context sensitive with numerous forms of support that could be found under different coloured symbols at each point. Now, in the case of a wrong entry, LIVECONTEXT is able to immediately, with no time-lag, mark the corresponding field and block it at the same time. It is then not possible to go any further until the field is completed correctly, and the user is shown that it is correct in the application. The respective validation specifications can be set by a validations expert from the company’s own IT department, or by users without a technical background. There are options such as “permitted characters” (capital / lower-case letters and numbers), “length” (number of characters) or “list” (list with words that should appear, or should not appear, for example different ways of writing the company’s name such as IMC, imc, im-c etc.) All of these specifications can of course also be combined. Particularly common mistakes or important fields (e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, domain names, credit card and telephone numbers etc.) are already set up with the standard validation specifications. Branch or company-specific validations can then be easily added to these. “With this technological milestone, we are adding a new chapter to user support,” Kraemer enthuses over the success.     Automatic creation and documentation of interaction processes It was already possible in Version 2.0 to create screen records. Now the user can fill these screen records with speech bubbles containing explanatory text and the user can even create an elaborate demo-document complete with full videos. The speech bubbles always appear when the user clicks on a button or an entry field when creating the record. This provides an excellent way in which operational procedures and processes can be displayed within software, and these can be further developed through interactive elements and tests.   Automatic creation of software documentation and training materials Word and PDF documents can be generated without additional work and expense from screen records and the information contained therein. Automatically generated headers and footers, tables of content and front pages make these documents the perfect training materials or handbooks that can be shared with users. “Once software systems have been installed and rolled out throughout the company, they are often used for various years. Therefore, in the phase after GoLive, potential for optimisation in data management, user support and training should be used,” concludes Kraemer.  ]]> Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:16:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/rent-a-lms/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/rent-a-lms/ Inexpensive, simple and tailor-made: SaaS model is becoming more and more attractive for further training Inexpensive, simple and tailor-made: SaaS model is becoming more and more attractive for further training  Saarbrücken, 24 August 2010 – CLIX SaaS has arrived  in HR departments. For six months now, the software, which is available as a service option of the successful Learning Management System (LMS) of IMC AG, has been used extensively to optimise training. As LMS market leader and SaaS pioneer, IMC AG shows a positive interim result. "Since its introduction we have managed to acquire 25 new CLIX SaaS customers. Amongst those include the employment agency Adecco, but also "Hidden champions" like the packaging specialist Brangs & Heinrich, the British training provider Maven Training and the Australian training provider epsi learning", explains IMC CEO Dr. Wolfgang Kraemer. “The sales discussions run smoothly, we complete the contract quickly and above all – we gain new customers from sectors which up until now have hardly worked with or not worked with learning technologies at all." Small city runabout or van, saloon or estate, petrol or diesel engine – there is seldom one solution which meets everyone's needs at any time. What car sharing is to the car industry, the SaaS model is to training. Whether an individual package or a comprehensive training package, whether an ad-hoc requirement or long term training - just like a balloon, the scope of utilisation of the LMS can be flexibly expanded or reduced. And all this, within the shortest space of time and with full cost control. Getting started with SaaS is just as easy as with rental cars: The only necessity is Internet access. Implementation of the system into the customer’s IT infrastructure is not necessary and in addition, complete hosting is provided by IMC.Therein, lies one of the successes of SaaS for Kraemer. “If the HR departments can initiate training projects without any assistance from IT, they will not hesitate for long." An additional plus point is of course the rapid availability of the system. “If we have previously put in a request to our hosting service provider for provision of ASP architecture, we had a lead time of at least four weeks. Today, the architecture is in place and ready for use within a few hours”, Kraemer adds. More than three million users worldwide now work with CLIX; and the trend is increasing. From the SaaS version, Kraemer hopes for a further catalyst, above all due to the undisputed cost advantages. “The customer not only saves the need for investment in hardware and software licences but also saves installation and maintenance costs. As we charge in a fair and transparent way per invoice booking, the customer only pays for the services which he actually uses. The scenario of already paid for, but unused licences, belongs to the past.”  Savings of up to 60 percent against the on-premise model are easy to achieve on this basis.        
85 percent of the economic output in German is generated by medium-sized companies and CLIX SaaS is the optimal solution for this customer segment because, continues Kraemer, “a company cannot live solely on the back of Dax groups who prefer individually customised on-premise solutions.” For medium-sized companies in particular, CLIX SaaS is a manageable investment and suitable introduction into the world of technology-based training. “The high number of new customers who we have gained over the past few months confirms the concepts success”, declares Kraemer in conclusion.  

]]> Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:29:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/polnische-augenaerzte-haben-den-durchblick/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/polnische-augenaerzte-haben-den-durchblick/ CLIX SaaS provides efficient training
Healthy eyes are a valuable asset and need to be protected. Eye specialists are important partners. Their targeted and structured further training is therefore just as important. OKOMEDICA, a company specialising in consultation for optometrists, has launched a comprehensive 24-month training project with Salus University in Pennsylvania, USA and their globally recognised “College of Optometry“. With the help of the learning management system CLIX, around 100 specialist doctors will use the respective courses and learning content, some of which was also produced with the authoring tool LECTURNITY, another IMC product. OKOMEDIA has, however, not yet purchased the LMS, which has been successful for many years, and has instead opted to lease the service. “This training and qualification project is predestined for the "software as a service" model" explains Dr. Tilman Küchler, Director Public Sector & Education at IMC. “It will be possible to launch the project quickly, the demand is clearly-defined in terms of content and the duration is limited. It would therefore not have made much sense to have an expensive implementation of an on-premises model.”  In addition to this, the client also had no corresponding IT infrastructure, let alone resources for regular updates and system maintenance. These services are now being provided by IMC for OKOMEDICA, including a daily backup of the data and a 24/7 support service. “The client will receive a product which is ready for use right away, with a modern, individually tailored user interface and in a Polish language version. OKOMEDIA will be able to concentrate on its core areas of expertise: The management of the content and specialist aspects of this extraordinary project” explains Küchler conclusively.       


]]> Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:22:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/lecturnity-gewinnt-bronze-beim-brandon-hall-lerntechnologie-preis/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/lecturnity-gewinnt-bronze-beim-brandon-hall-lerntechnologie-preis/ Saarbrücken, 30th April 2010 – IMC, a leader in innovative learning, won a coveted Brandon Hall bronze award for technology excellence in the ‘Rapid Authoring’ category. IMC’s win for “LECTURNITY” was announced on Thursday, April 29. “Until now, screen grabbing and the use of object‐based recording have been perceived as opposites. With the release of LECTURNITY 4 we combined these two worlds together into one solution”, says Dr. Wolfgang Kraemer, Chairman of IMC AG, “We are very proud that our work has been recognised by Brandon Hall in this way.” Object‐based recording enables enhanced search functionalityThanks to object‐based recording LECTURNITY offers far more than a traditional screen recording tool. LECTURNITY not only records your screen but also effectively “understands” what is being recorded. All texts within the recorded contents on the screen will be automatically read in using embedded Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. The contents are then automatically structured and indexed to make them searchable by the learner. If learners are only interested in a specific part of a presentation, they simply enter the relevant search term into the search box and LECTURNITY will find the appropriate sequence. This puts an end to hour‐long searches and to the need to categorize content in painstaking detail. Thus, LECTURNITY is saving time and money and supporting the learner in finding specific information. As presentation recordings are no longer considered exotic, IMC dramatically reduced the price in August 2009. The software is now affordable for everyone, at 149 Euros, and is easily available in the international online shop. The Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning Technology Awards are presented by Brandon Hall Research, one of the leading research firms in training and development. The Learning Technology Awards program showcases innovations in the products in the marketplace for creating and managing learning, talent, and performance. “These outstanding tools and systems propel the learning profession forward,” said Brandon Hall, Ph.D., chairman of the Awards program. “These innovative products let customers make learning faster, better, and easier.” The entries were evaluated by independent judges around the world. About Brandon Hall Research Brandon Hall, Ph.D. is the CEO of Brandon Hall Research and author of the ground-breaking “Web-Based Training Cookbook.” Since 1992, Brandon Hall Research (www.brandon-hall.com) has been providing independent research reports and expert advice on using technology in learning. Brandon Hall Research conducts Awards programs each year to recognize the best in innovative learning. Object‐based recording enables enhanced search functionality
Thanks to object‐based recording LECTURNITY offers far more than a traditional screen recording tool. LECTURNITY not only records your screen but also effectively “understands” what is being recorded. All texts within the recorded contents on the screen will be automatically read in using embedded Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. The contents are then automatically structured and indexed to make them searchable by the learner. If learners are only interested in a specific part of a presentation, they simply enter the relevant search term into the search box and LECTURNITY will find the appropriate sequence. This puts an end to hour‐long searches and to the need to categorize content in painstaking detail. Thus, LECTURNITY is saving time and money and supporting the learner in finding specific information. As presentation recordings are no longer considered exotic, IMC dramatically reduced the price in August 2009. The software is now affordable for everyone, at 149 Euros, and is easily available in the international online shop. The Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning Technology Awards are presented by Brandon Hall Research, one of the leading research firms in training and development. The Learning Technology Awards program showcases innovations in the products in the marketplace for creating and managing learning, talent, and performance. “These outstanding tools and systems propel the learning profession forward,” said Brandon Hall, Ph.D., chairman of the Awards program. “These innovative products let customers make learning faster, better, and easier.” The entries were evaluated by independent judges around the world. About Brandon Hall Research
Brandon Hall, Ph.D. is the CEO of Brandon Hall Research and author of the ground-breaking “Web-Based Training Cookbook.” Since 1992, Brandon Hall Research (www.brandon-hall.com) has been providing independent research reports and expert advice on using technology in learning. Brandon Hall Research conducts Awards programs each year to recognize the best in innovative learning.]]> Mon, 03 May 2010 15:20:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/livecontext-fuer-verlaessliche-unternehmensentscheidungen/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/livecontext-fuer-verlaessliche-unternehmensentscheidungen/ New release with integrated LECTURNITY authoring tool More impact through product integration 
LIVECONTEXT, awarded the “IT Innovation Prize” just several weeks ago, is based in the principle of context-sensitive support. This means that the software completely scans the respective application with all of its windows, fields and entry masks in order to provide the user with support at critical points when it is actually required. This support may take the form of simple text documentation, or also short videos, animations, podcasts or interactive learning units. But how is this content created? In new LIVECONTEXT, this is dealt with by LECTURNITY, the successful IMC AG authoring tool. Almost undiscernibly and without the user needing to put effort into becoming acquainted with LECTURNITY, they can create the required learning sequences from the LIVECONTEXT mode and administrate them in the media library, another new feature.  
LIVECONTEXT “understands” the software
Business processes and software systems are constantly subject to adjustments. Software support based on the simple “filming” of screen masks therefore requires a complete revision of the produced learning material if there is no more than a minor adjustment to the application software. In contrast, LIVECONTEXT works with field-specific information. In the event of upgrades or release changes, the required support for the changed areas can be precisely and quickly amended at a low cost. Complete reviews are no longer required and the context-sensitive support is always up to date. “With the new LIVECONTEXT, inaccurate data and the resulting loss of turnover, increased costs and uncertain, frustrated employees are a thing of the past", assures Kraemer.    ]]> Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:10:00 +0200 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/imc-sorgt-fuer-digitalen-fruehjahrsputz-bei-der-weiterbildung/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/imc-sorgt-fuer-digitalen-fruehjahrsputz-bei-der-weiterbildung/ Sevenoaks, February 2010 – “Cloud Computing” is certainly part of the large IT trend this year. Businesses and organisations access applications over the Internet by subscribing to a supplier on a “Software as a Service” (SaaS) basis. This business model is also gaining more and more supporters in the HR field. IMC UK Learning Ltd. offers the new release of its successful Learning Management Systems (LMS) under the name “CLIX 2010” and hence also a “SaaS solution”. Indeed, the “subscription software” model enjoys great popularity with businesses. In contrast to the classic software business, expenditure does not lie significantly with the company using it, but with the SaaS supplier. It provides its product by means of so-called multi-tenant architecture in which many organisations share horizontally and vertically scalable infrastructure equally. The supplier takes care of the installation, configuration, maintenance and updating of the software. In principle, customers no longer pay for the technology, but for the service, whose quality becomes the focus. Due to the fact that suppliers of SaaS solutions are largely responsible for the seamless operation of an application, they have an increased interest in the reliability of their products. As a consequence, this has lead to high quality software: this incorporates continuous application with patches and updates, automatic back-up of files, simple operation of the software and high availability. At the same time, considerable savings develop on the customer side. Absolute IT costs are reduced, investment costs change to operating costs, deployment phases are reduced, access to applications is speeded up and IT alignment optimised. The simple way of up and down-sizing business processes therefore makes SaaS attractive to businesses particularly in economically difficult times. Even Dirk Thissen, Managing Director of IMC UK Learning Ltd., is convinced that the benefits of learning technologies in the cloud are established as a business model. “In the meantime, there are numerous best practices for SaaS with strong ROI calculations. SaaS can be flexibly adapted to new corporate structures and training requirements, release its own IT and support the concentration on core competencies by transferring business processes to external service providers”. “In addition, companies nowadays do not just have a qualification remit with its own employees. External trade partners, suppliers and customers also have to be trained. Since it is considerably easier if all business partners log in to a protected system over the Internet rather than into their own IT infrastructure to exchange the relevant information in a cumbersome manner afterwards.” Medium-sized enterprises, in particular, are offered promising market opportunities with the SaaS model. Small and medium-sized enterprises are highly specialised in their field; IT experts are, by contrast, usually not. SaaS applications and outsourced IT processes therefore meet this need very well. The new CLIX 2010, which as a classic license model is offered both as an Application Service Providing (ASP) and SaaS solution, allowing you to use modern software solutions and at the same time concentrate on your core business. “With the increasing dissemination of SaaS solutions, continues Thissen, the technological aspects of IT applications fade into the background, thus, issues of cost/benefit and the contribution to added value increasingly dominate.” In the end for specialised sectors, it comes down to which SaaS supplier can optimally support the business processes as a service. Which IT architecture is used as the basis for these solutions is subordinate, provided that the basic aspects, for example, data security and service quality are guaranteed. In other words: for the user of a rental car, in essence, only the on-time delivery, period of use, vehicle category, rental costs and condition of the vehicle are relevant, but, however, not a basic orientation of the vehicle technology, much less knowledge about the precise physical functions of petrol engines. SaaS solutions thus foster decentralised decision-making power as well as the autonomy of specialist departments as a “buying centre” for core solutions. Even Dirk Thissen, Managing Director of IMC UK Learning Ltd., is convinced that the benefits of learning technologies in the cloud are established as a business model. “In the meantime, there are numerous best practices for SaaS with strong ROI calculations. SaaS can be flexibly adapted to new corporate structures and training requirements, release its own IT and support the concentration on core competencies by transferring business processes to external service providers”. “In addition, companies nowadays do not just have a qualification remit with its own employees. External trade partners, suppliers and customers also have to be trained. Since it is considerably easier if all business partners log in to a protected system over the Internet rather than into their own IT infrastructure to exchange the relevant information in a cumbersome manner afterwards.”
Medium-sized enterprises, in particular, are offered promising market opportunities with the SaaS model. Small and medium-sized enterprises are highly specialised in their field; IT experts are, by contrast, usually not. SaaS applications and outsourced IT processes therefore meet this need very well. The new CLIX 2010, which as a classic license model is offered both as an Application Service Providing (ASP) and SaaS solution, allowing you to use modern software solutions and at the same time concentrate on your core business.
“With the increasing dissemination of SaaS solutions, continues Thissen, the technological aspects of IT applications fade into the background, thus, issues of cost/benefit and the contribution to added value increasingly dominate.” In the end for specialised sectors, it comes down to which SaaS supplier can optimally support the business processes as a service. Which IT architecture is used as the basis for these solutions is subordinate, provided that the basic aspects, for example, data security and service quality are guaranteed. In other words: for the user of a rental car, in essence, only the on-time delivery, period of use, vehicle category, rental costs and condition of the vehicle are relevant, but, however, not a basic orientation of the vehicle technology, much less knowledge about the precise physical functions of petrol engines. SaaS solutions thus foster decentralised decision-making power as well as the autonomy of specialist departments as a “buying centre” for core solutions.]]> Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:48:00 +0100 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/vorhang-auf-fuer-clix-2010/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/vorhang-auf-fuer-clix-2010/ Learning Management System from IMC UK Learning Ltd. now also available as service solution software Software as a service, i.e. cloud computing, is one of the major ICT trends, although the new concept is rarely associated with HR systems. This is a mystery to Professor August-Wilhelm Scheer, founder and principal shareholder of IMC AG. In his opinion, “learning management processes are the perfect application scenarios in cloud computing”. “Learning technologies are not highly integrative with other application systems and their use is often demand-orientated, referring to a particular point in time. The competitively-priced SaaS model is therefore ideal for the planning, execution and monitoring of personal development measures in HR systems.”
The Managing Director of IMC UK Learning Ltd., Dr. Dirk Thissen, is also convinced that the use of learning cloud technology will become an established part of business models. “The SaaS solution in particular allows small and medium-sized companies with limited IT resources to use modern software solutions while concentrating on their core business.” CLIX 2010 … looks good
The new CLIX is presented with a completely new design. Fresh colour accents, a stringent language style and increased use of intuitive icons create clarity. Transparent elements provide ease of use and elegance, working together with interactive highlight effects to make CLIX a completely new user experience. But CLIX does not only look good - the design also contributes significantly to the high level of user friendliness. CLIX 2010 … is child’s play
The clear and simple CLIX 2010 interface helps the learner determine their current stage of learning, locate the next tasks at a glance and quickly retrace their learning history.
The new toolbar significantly increases clarity and makes it easy to find learning content, tests and questionnaires which can only be opened in a standard player. Filters, search fields and clearly structured menus enable the intuitive location of functions, courses and learning content. The use of tabs in CLIX makes it possible to handle several processes at the same time, considerably reducing the number of clicks needed. Split screens are used for the highest possible level of information content without the user needing to carry out any other functions. If a learner is in two minds about which course to start, they can browse through the courses on offer on the left-hand side of a split screen and view information about the course content, tutors and prices on the right-hand side. In principle, the consistent implementation of processes and interaction schemes provide high recognition value for all functions and components. CLIX 2010 … is personal
As with “iGoogle”, a learner can design their own personal learning environment. The first point of contact is the multiple-column dashboard. There, the learner can decide what he wants to be displayed: the courses they have booked, current news or upcoming appointments. This entry portal offers central access to courses, functions and learning content with just one click. CLIX 2010 … breaking new ground
IMC is also breaking new ground in product development. Previously, new and comprehensive CLIX releases were usually launched once a year. In the future, IMC will offer its customers “service packs” at least once a quarter, each providing the latest functions. These “service packs” make the development cycles more flexible and significantly reduce customers' migration expenses. Customer requests can be dealt with more quickly within the scope of function for the standard software and new market developments can be responded to immediately. CLIX 2010 … inspires
CLIX 2010 was developed together with customers on the basis of a two-year customer experience phase. The experiences of end users who use the system on a daily basis and the most recent software ergonomics research were crucial elements in the complete redesign of the interaction scheme. The feedback so far has been consistently positive. For instance, Eva-Maria Bruch, e-learning project manager at Festo AG & Co. KG, commented: “I am particularly impressed with the usability of CLIX 2010. The new user interface is intuitively structured and will result in a significant reduction of the time used for administration.” Nadine Hengen, responsible for “e-learning Functional Support” at the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation EUROCONTROL, based in Luxemburg, adds: “My first impressions are very positive. Many processes are now shorter, have been made more flexible and can be carried out at the same time. I am looking forward to the end product.”]]> Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:43:00 +0100 http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/lecturnity-macht-schule/ http://www.imc-learningworld.com/global/en/nc/help/rss-feed/detail/article/lecturnity-macht-schule/ “LECTURNITY School” for 49 euros – New: YouTube upload LECTURNITY meets YouTube IMC has now removed this particular phenomenon at schools and has integrated an attractive additional application into its recording tool, which will also inspire business and university users. From now on, LECTURNITY can also be used to upload recorded presentations to YouTube, where they can be viewed by the respective target group. According to information provided by YouTube, around 100 million people around the world now actively use the platform and the available videos are downloaded about 2.5 billion times every month. “Moving images are very popular and one of the major trends in the Web 2.0”, explains IMC director Dr. Wolfgang Kraemer. “LECTURNITY’s strength is the fact that it enables people to experience live presentations over and over again and is therefore predestined for use with video portals. The YouTube upload feature demonstrates the capabilities of our authoring software in social media.” LECTURNITY - the fine art of recording The uploaded LECTURNITY recordings can also be easily played back on mobile end devices such as an iPod or iPhone - anywhere and at any time, which employees working away from the office particularly appreciate. LECTURNITY helps teachers to integrate pedagogical media approaches into lessons, for instance by working together with interactive whiteboards. Previously, the whiteboard images were saved and sent to pupils by email for review, which required a lot of effort. Using LECTURNITY School, teachers can now collect the various data streams together into one recording and make this available to everyone on YouTube online significantly more quickly and contemporaneously.  LECTURNITY School can be ordered online at http://www.lecturnity.co.uk. From now, IMC will also be providing its own micro site http://school.lecturnity.co.uk where users can access valuable tips and tricks, reference projects, a video tutorial portal and extensive subject literature. ]]> Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:20:00 +0100