This document discusses technology development in human resource development and learning from project failures. It provides examples of major technology project failures at companies like Hershey, Nike, Hewlett-Packard, and the U.S. Air Force. The document also lists skills that are beneficial for technology development activities, such as multi-tasking, envisioning end products, social media skills, project management, usability studies, change processes, and instructional design. Finally, it discusses integrating technology with HRD objectives and processes to improve learning and performance.

1. Rochell R. McWhorter, PhD
rmcwhorter@uttyler.edu
The University of Texas at Tyler, USA
Elisabeth E. Bennett, PhD
el.bennett@neu.edu
Northeastern University, USA
Technology Development:
Learning from Project Failures

2. 2 Questions:
1. Share an experience with a
technology failure – one that did not
produce the desired outcome. What
happened?
2. What do you think HRD’s role should
be in technology projects?

3. Technology Development is…
“the integration of technology
with HRD objectives and
processes to improve learning
capacity and performance”
(Bennett & McWhorter, 2014, p. 18)

4. Figure 1: Integrating Technology Development in HRD
Source: Bennett, 2014

5. Technology Project Failures
• Hershey’s ERP Failure, 1999
• Nike ERP systems, 2000
• Hewlett-Packard, 2004
• U.S. Air Force, 2005-2012

6. Table 1: Skills Benefitting Technology Development Activities
Source: McWhorter, 2014
• Multi-tasking in hybrid training and hybrid events (Fazarro & McWhorter; Huggett,
2010)
• Envisioning the end-product to aid in designing-in the needed features (Bennett,
2014)
• Envisioning “webbing in” (Bennett, 2014) of technologies that can be integrated into
the existing technology ecosystem of VHRD
• Social Media Skills for Professional Branding (Deckers & Lacy; 2013; McWhorter,
2014)
• Gamification Skills for Designing Learning (Kapp, 2012)
• Project Management and Project Leadership Skills (Ellinger & Ellinger, 2014;
Gallagher, Kaiser, Simon, Beath & Goles, 2010)
• Visualizing the use of mediated information within technologically integrative
environments for increasing learning capacity and optimizing work processes and
organizational system performance (McWhorter, 2011; Monteiro, Almklov, & Hepsø,
2012
• Performing a usability study of technology (Boudreaux, 2012; Instructional
Assessment Resources, 2007; National Center for Technology Innovation, 2011).
• Use of Change Processes in the Implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning
(Martin & Huq, 2007) or Electronic Health Records (HealthIT.gov, 2013, 2014)
• Conducting a Task Analysis for Technology Tools (Bennett, 2013)
• Database Design/Management (Gallagher, et al., 2010)
• Computer Programming (Gallagher, et al., 2010; Hein, 2013)
• Instructional Design (Bennett, 2014a, this issue)
• System Testing and Operating Systems (Gallagher, et al., 2010)
• Voice/Data Communications (Gallagher, et al., 2010)

7. Thank You!