CHICAGO, Oct 15, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- SkillSoft PLC (Nasdaq: SKIL), a leading SaaS provider of e-learning and
performance support solutions for global enterprises, government,
education and small to medium-sized businesses, today announced it will
make its proven Open Learning Services Architecture (OLSA) framework
available to talent management vendors. Unveiled at the HR Technology
Conference in Chicago on October 15 - 17, 2008 (Booth #751), this move
provides talent management vendors with a proven tool to integrate their
offerings with SkillSoft's web services-based
e-learning systems.
In today's highly competitive business
environment, hiring, developing and retaining talent is critical to
organizational success. While many businesses invest in talent
management and e-learning, they often approach each investment
separately. Making the OLSA platform available to providers of talent
management suites gives customers the ability to consider their
investments together to realize the efficiencies created from the
integration of learning content and learning delivery software with
those applications. Introduced roughly three years ago, OLSA is a
comprehensive service-oriented architecture that leverages existing
learning system standards, XML and emerging Web services standards.
Through this powerful integration, users from within talent management
applications will be able to do the following:
--
Automatically authenticate users and determine learning entitlements
--
Deliver contextually relevant learning content including formal
courses, reference materials, white papers, audio casts, and
leadership videos;
--
Launch learning assets without leaving the talent management
environment
--
Align courses to competencies and skills; and
--
Report on learning activity with individuals and groups.
"Our integration with the talent management
applications marks a logical next step for both SkillSoft and our OLSA
platform," said John Ambrose, Senior Vice
President of Strategy, Corporate Development & Emerging Business for
SkillSoft. "We're
very pleased with the momentum behind OLSA among the Learning Management
System vendors and are looking to extend the benefits of this framework
to the Talent Management space."
With OLSA, SkillSoft can now deliver to customers advanced learning
solutions, such as new KnowledgeCenters, videos and Live Learning
(virtual classroom training) in flexible and innovative ways using a
range of learning management systems, Human Capital Management platforms
and other enterprise applications.
"OLSA is a powerful integration architecture
that brings talent management and learning closer together,"
said Greg Thompson, Senior Director of Product Management at
SuccessFactors, the global leader in on-demand performance and talent
management solutions. "Customers are looking
for seamless integration of their talent management initiatives,
including expertise and knowledge acquisition, and OLSA presents a
standardized opportunity to streamline this effort and provide
additional process differentiation."
Fore more information about OLSA, please visit http://www.skillsoft.com/products/LMS/lms_integration.asp
About SkillSoft
SkillSoft PLC (Nasdaq: SKIL) is a leading SaaS provider of on-demand
e-learning and performance support solutions for global enterprises,
government, education and small to medium-sized businesses. SkillSoft
enables business organizations to maximize business performance through
a combination of comprehensive e- learning content, online information
resources, flexible learning technologies and support services.
Content offerings include business, IT, desktop, compliance and
consumer/SMB courseware collections, as well as complementary content
assets such as Leadership Development Channel video products,
KnowledgeCenter(TM) portals, virtual instructor-led training services
and online mentoring services. SkillSoft's
Books24x7(R) product offering includes access to more than 20,000
digitized IT and business books, as well as book summaries and executive
reports. Technology offerings include the SkillPort(R) learning
management system, Search-and-Learn(R), SkillSoft(R) Dialogue(TM) and
virtual classroom.
SkillSoft courseware content described herein is for information
purposes only and is subject to change without notice. SkillSoft has no
obligation or commitment to develop or deliver any future release,
upgrade, feature, enhancement or function described in this press
release except as specifically set forth in a written agreement.
SkillSoft, the SkillSoft logo, SkillPort, Search-and-Learn,
SkillChoice, Books24x7, ITPro, BusinessPro, OfficeEssentials,
GovEssentials, EngineeringPro, FinancePro, AnalystPerspectives,
ExecSummaries, ExecBlueprints, Express Guide and Dialogue are trademarks
or registered trademarks of SkillSoft PLC in the United States and
certain other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners, countries.
SOURCE: SkillSoft PLC
SkillSoft
Donna Keenan, 603-821-3211
Donna_Keenan@SkillSoft.com
or
Lois Paul & Partners
Frank Tutalo, 781-782-5761
ftutalo@lpp.com
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