OPAL^® (Online Performance And Learning)

Online Performance And Learning (OPAL^®) is a system that delivers just-in-time coaching and support direct to users’ desktops. It gives people the tools to build skills and perform better on the job. Leveraging the power of the Internet or your organization’s Intranet, OPAL^® reinforces formal and informal training, and serves as valuable pre- and post-workshop support by placing information at the click of a mouse. Action planners, assessment tools, tips, and ideas provide the level of support employees need to excel. Using OPAL^® will help your people understand and develop in key business competencies and perform in tough work situations. OPAL^® has two components:

Advisor: Everyone faces tough work situations - important meetings, performance reviews, conflict, job performance issues, teamwork, interviewing, etc. The Advisor section provides a range of learning that people can access on a just-in-time basis for practical tips and guidelines, pointers, and pitfalls. People also can use more than 330 Advisor learning tools, such as checklists, road maps, guidelines for action, planners, tip sheets, and intervention techniques, to help users apply their learning. Advisor content aligns seamlessly with DDI’s development courses, and topics cover virtually every job situation - from rescuing difficult meetings to overcoming resistance to change to resolving team conflict.

Note: For the purpose of this demonstration, the following situations can be fully explored – “Fundamentals of Feedback” and “Making Your Meetings Work.” The remaining 228 situations are listed, although content is restricted beyond the introduction sub-sections.

Developer: Continual professional development is a necessity today for both personal and organizational success. With its time-efficient, just-what's-needed learning, Developer helps people understand and develop in a variety of important business competencies, such as decision making, negotiation, coaching, planning and organizing, and customer focus. Developer fosters an intellectual understanding as well as the skills to put that knowledge into practice. Users simply select the competency in which they want to develop, and then choose from a variety of knowledge enhancers, such as Quick Tips, Key Actions, and Development Activities. To reinforce their knowledge and transfer it to their jobs, they can work through more than 340 skill-building exercises.

Note: For the purpose of this demonstration, the following full competencies can be explored – “Coaching” and “Leading through Vision and Values.” The remaining 37 competencies are listed, although content is restricted beyond the introduction sub-sections.

Tools:

• A robust search engine allows users to quickly find specific OPAL^® content. Note: For the purpose of this demonstration, the search engine will only find the content available as listed above (i.e. the 2 full Advisor situations and 2 full Developer competencies).
• A Development Action Form provides a template for employees to plan and track their development progress.
• A STAR form gives users an easy-access framework for giving feedback to colleagues, either to reinforce a behavior or to drive improvement.
• The “Help” function provides guidance for using OPAL^®.

Additional Information: For more information about DDI's electronic performance support system, please contact your DDI account representative or call (800) 933-4463 to speak to a DDI representative.