IHG’s Leadership Transformation: A Success Story with Learning Pool
Unveiling IHG
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is a global hospitality powerhouse with a robust portfolio of 17 renowned hotel brands, catering to more than 150 million guests annually across 884,000 rooms worldwide. Headquartered in Buckinghamshire, England, IHG is synonymous with quality and luxury in the hospitality industry.
The Uphill Battle
In the wake of a strategic review in 2018, IHG recognized the pressing need for improved communication skills among its workforce. With ambitious growth objectives on the horizon, IHG identified the imperative for its leaders to engage in meaningful and productive conversations within the organization.
Empowering Leaders
Teaming up with Learning Pool, IHG opted to launch a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) designed to upskill 3000 first-level leaders globally. Leveraging the Learning Pool Platform as the primary tool for course delivery, IHG curated content to establish a hub for fostering ‘brilliant conversations’ on a global scale.
Each week, participants accessed Stream on the Learning Pool Platform to engage with fresh content and tackle conversation challenges. The MOOC, crafted by IHG’s L&D team, incorporated integrated videos and curated material, including TED talks, from internal and external sources.
Participants earned XP points on the platform by viewing content, contributing, and participating in live webinars hosted via WebEx. IHG also introduced contribution challenges prompting leaders to share user-generated content, reflecting on their learning and application of conversation principles.
Ringing Success Bells
The MOOC garnered an overwhelming response from leaders, with over 1500 videos contributed and 30,000 responses generated. Enthusiastic participation spanned across 42 countries, showcasing a clear evolution in mindset and behavior among learners throughout the course.
- 1500+ videos added
- 42 countries participated
- 30,000+ responses recorded
Notably, leaders exhibited increasing engagement week by week on the platform, defying common MOOC trends.
Measuring Impact with xAPI
Post-MOOC, IHG conducted an in-depth analysis to gauge the program’s impact on behavioral change. Leveraging xAPI with the Learning Pool Learning Record Store, IHG’s data scientists delved into the learning data to assess behavioral shifts.
The evaluation highlighted:
- 50% participants embraced change
- 12% attempted new behaviors
Testimonial Spotlight
“Around 400 colleagues participated in the hackathon, fostering high-quality dialogue and reflective conversations. The immersive experience enhanced by Learning Pool Platform revolutionized learning engagement, allowing diverse elements to converge seamlessly, enriching user interaction.”
– Lianne Coriette, Global Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Wellbeing, Future of Work
Recent Endeavors
Amidst the pandemic-induced work dynamics shift, IHG set out to explore leadership and cultural dynamics within the organization, focusing on well-being and the future of work. This quest paved the way for a unique program.
Reshaping Strategies
The “Next Thinking” hackathon hosted 1000 IHG colleagues for a three-day immersion. Using Learning Pool Platform as the arena, the company sought insights on Culture, Leadership, Flexible Working, and Wellbeing, gathering qualitative and quantitative data through interactive content authoring.
The hackathon bore fruits:
- 4500+ comments collected
- Informing strategic decisions in leadership development, process enhancements, and workplace engagement
