Category Strategy

Thinking in Systems – book review

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In her book ‘Thinking in Systems’, Donella Meadows shows why well-meant training often fails when structures, interconnections and purpose stay intact. Drawing on stocks, flows and feedback loops, Houra Amin explores what learning leaders can diagnose before intervening, and how…

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Why skills intelligence is the missing link in workforce planning for the talent crisis

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Workforce planning is being rewritten by AI, and old build-or-buy thinking can’t keep up. Ciara Harrington sets out the Four Bs framework, Build, Buy, Borrow and Bot, powered by skills intelligence and skills gap analysis. It helps HR and L&D…

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What influence looks like for L&D in 2026

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A new TJ video brings together expert contributor reflections on adaptability, business alignment and intentional boldness in L&D. Drawing on themes from the TJ Influence Report 2026, the discussion explores why learning leaders need to focus less on delivery detail…

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The TJ L&D Influence Report 2026

TJ L&D Influence Report 2026 front cover

After months exploring why L&D’s best evidence and intentions still stall, Editor Jo Cook shares a new report shaped by Training Journal’s 60th Anniversary Conference. It introduces the Readiness Enablers Index and highlights practical conditions like stakeholder access, data, experimentation…

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The AI upskilling mandate: An L&D strategy for the AI era

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In the rush to govern AI and fear automation, organisations are ignoring the most urgent issue: capability. This article argues HR and L&D must distinguish autopilot risks from co-pilot opportunity, move beyond basic AI prompt training, and prioritise critical thinking,…

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The efficiency paradox: Why AI is speeding up work but slowing down leadership

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Andrew Bryant argues that AI-driven efficiency is outpacing leadership capability, creating an “efficiency paradox” where organisations perform better on paper but grow strategically weaker. He explores Klarna’s AI lesson, the shift from performance management to potential development, and why L&D…

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Stop calling everything a skill

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Ben Satchwell argues that muddled language is undermining people frameworks, HR systems and L&D credibility, especially as skills data becomes machine-readable. Ben clarifies the building blocks from knowledge to behaviour, explains why competencies evidence individual performance while capabilities describe systemic…

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How one council made training measurable, strategic and value-led

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Martin Furminger explains how a UK council adapted the Systems Approach to Training to build a structured, flexible learning system aligned to its People and Culture Plan. He shares how analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation create measurable impact, improve…

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Beyond generative: The leadership playbook for agentic AI learning

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As agentic AI moves to setting goals and acting, workplace learning is shifting into the flow of work. Johnson Wong argues leaders must design AI-enabled workflows, reskill for human oversight, and enable department alignment of IT, operations and the people…

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AI jobs apocalypse… or bonanza?

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Will AI steal our jobs? Wrong question. AI performs tasks and most jobs involve a combination of tasks. The AI impact depends on organisational choices, not just the technology. David Buchanan and Steve Macaulay explore how the outcome for jobs…

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