When COVID-19 forced a global shift to remote working, organisations turned en masse to Learning Management Systems (LMS) to deliver mandatory training. It was the right decision at the time — scalable, trackable, and cost-effective.
But five years on, a more uncomfortable question needs asking:
Has all that LMS training actually changed anything in the workplace?
LMS: Convenient Doesn’t Mean Effective
There’s no doubt LMS platforms made training logistically simple. But while they enabled rapid content rollout, many organisations failed to assess whether the knowledge delivered was ever transferred into real-world behaviour.
A 2023 report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that:
“Digital learning continues to be widely used, yet less than a quarter of organisations systematically evaluate learning impact beyond participant satisfaction.”
This “completion vs. competence” gap is not just a performance issue — it’s a risk.
Knowledge ≠ Behaviour
Completing an LMS module on data privacy or emergency protocols doesn’t guarantee a correct response when an actual crisis occurs. The UK National Audit Office (2021) highlighted this during its review of government crisis preparedness:
“Training delivered through e-learning modules was not always sufficient to ensure operational readiness under pressure.”
This challenge is backed by decades of research. The Institute for Employment Studies (IES) has repeatedly warned that:
“Without applied learning opportunities and performance feedback, workplace transfer rates remain low — particularly for complex or high-stakes skills.”
So, how do we fix this?
Enter Tabletop Exercises (TTX)
At Cognitas Global, we use TTX to bridge the gap between theory and behaviour.
These scenario-based exercises simulate high-pressure events in a controlled environment — requiring teams to make decisions, coordinate, and communicate under real-time constraints.
This isn’t just a stress test. It’s a learning event that:
- Surfaces behavioural and knowledge gaps
- Reinforces key learning outcomes
- Embeds cross-team collaboration
- Tests leadership, not just policy recall
Experiential Learning: Backed by UK-Based Research
Experiential learning — learning by doing — is consistently shown to improve knowledge retention and transfer. UK-based studies support this:
| Source | Key Finding |
| Open University (2022) | Blended and experiential learning approaches improve learner engagement and long-term recall compared to passive digital formats. |
| University of Cambridge – Faculty of Education (2020) | “Reflection and rehearsal in simulated scenarios leads to greater self-efficacy and performance in applied workplace settings.” |
| CIPD Learning Evidence Review (2021) | “The highest-performing L&D strategies are those that combine digital delivery with experiential and social learning.” |
| University of Portsmouth – Centre for Simulation in Health and Care (2021) | Found simulated learning increased both retention and decision-making under stress in comparison to classroom or LMS-led instruction. |
LMS Alone Isn’t Enough — But It’s Not the Enemy
We’re not anti-LMS. LMS remains a crucial part of the learning ecosystem. But LMS alone isn’t sufficient to prepare people for real-life decisions.
When LMS content is not reinforced by experiential practice, the result is what we call false confidence — employees can pass the quiz, but freeze under pressure.
By contrast, blending LMS with experiential components like TTX creates a learning loop:
- Acquire knowledge (LMS)
- Apply knowledge (TTX)
- Assess behaviour and gaps
- Adapt training to close the loop
This loop creates measurable improvements in compliance, operational readiness, and team performance.
Final Thought: Training That Holds Up Under Pressure
If your LMS training hasn’t been tested in the real world, how do you know it works?
Tabletop Exercises allow you to stress-test the application of knowledge — not just its delivery. They transform “tick-box training” into behavioural change. And in a crisis, it’s behaviour — not knowledge — that saves organisations.
Ready to Move Beyond the LMS?
Cognitas Global helps organisations across sectors test and reinforce LMS content through immersive, facilitator-led exercises using our view360global platform. Whether it’s operational readiness, compliance, or leadership under pressure — we make sure your training holds up when it matters.
References:
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) (2023). Learning and Development Survey Report
National Audit Office (2021). The Government’s Preparedness for Civil Emergencies
Open University (2022). Learning Experience and Retention in Blended Formats
University of Cambridge, Faculty of Education (2020). Simulation, Reflection and Workplace Readiness
Institute for Employment Studies (IES) (2021). Transfer of Learning in UK Workplaces
University of Portsmouth (2021). Applied Learning Through Simulation in Professional Training