Glossary
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SaaS: Short for "Software as a service," typically referring to an application accessed by users via the Internet and hosted by the software vendor. (Also see: On-demand and ASP.)
Sarbanes-Oxley: This complex piece of legislation was passed in the wake of accounting scandals (most notoriously Enron) in the US economy during the early 2000’s. Compliance with “SOX” requires assertions of accuracy and deeper disclosures by publicly-traded corporations and key C-level officers regarding financial statements. Similar legislation has been passed in the European Union and other parts of the globe.
Scorecard: A measurement-driven methodology designed to operationalize and manage a company’s strategy. The most familiar scorecard is called the Balanced Scorecard, so named because the metrics tracked expand beyond the usual backward-looking financial outcomes that have traditionally defined business success. Besides financial indicators, scorecards will measure results pertaining to the success of strategic initiatives in improving customer satisfaction, improving internal business processes, and elevating the skills and readiness of employees to execute strategy. Such measures are known as “leading indicators.” (Also see Dashboards.)
SCORM: This is an overview of the Sharable Courseware Object Reference Model (SCORM). SCORM is a suite of technical standards that enable web-based learning systems to find, import, share, reuse, and export learning content in a standardized way.
Sequencing : Sequencing is similar to the CBT term branching in that it describes and prescribes the manner in which the learner receives the content. In CBT, much of the branching or sequencing occurred within a lesson or course as the learner completed different tasks. However, in SCORM, the learning management system (LMS) sequences all activities between the learning objects and the learner, essentially performing all of the sequencing of the content based upon rules created by the designer. (Also see: Learning Management System LMS, SCORM)
Sequencing Rules: Sequencing rules are used to define. Behaviors are described through rules that test conditions used to select content to deliver and that compute values used to control other behaviors.
Sharable Content Object (SCO): A sharable content object is a collection of assets that becomes an independent, defined piece of instructional material. SCOs are the smallest logical unit of instruction can be delivered and tracked via a learning management system (LMS). A SCO must communicate with a LMS using the API.
Six Sigma: Six Sigma is a disciplined, data-driven approach and methodology for eliminating defects in any business process – from manufacturing to transactional and from product to service (though its roots lie in its adoption by manufacturing businesses, notably Motorola). Six Sigma gets its name from the mathematical properties of a normal distribution (bell curve) – six defects or fewer per million opportunities equates to a range of acceptability spanning six standard deviations (represented mathematically by the Greek letter sigma).
Skill: Skills are the talents an individual brings to a job, usually acquired through training or experience. These are a component of competencies (which also reflect behaviors, personal characteristics, knowledge, aptitudes and attitudes). (Also see Competencies.)
S.M.A.R.T. Goals: An acronym used to represent five key characteristics of performance goals. The most common definition is:
S |
Specific |
There are numerous other variations of the words represented by the five letters.
Specification : A specification is a documented description typically created by an organization or consortia that is not formally accredited to produce standards. (Also see: Application Profile, Standard)
Standard: A formal accredited normative specification or set of guidelines, typically including conformance criteria. A standard is created by a formal standards development organization (SDO). (See also: Application Profile, Specification, Conformance , Standards Development Organization)
Standards Development Organization (SDO): An SDO is typically a nationally or internationally sanctioned body with a charter and formal, open process for creating standards. SDOs include: American National Standards Institute (ANSI), European Committee on Standardization (CEN), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the IEEE Computer Society (IEEE CS/SAB).
Strategic Planning: A continuous and systematic process whereby guiding members of an organization make decisions about its future, develop the necessary procedures and operations to achieve that future, and determine how success is to be measured.
Style Guide : A style guide is the set of established criteria, processes, and procedures a team follows throughout the process of creating instructional materials. It is a handbook or primary reference material for questions concerning designs, layouts, and standardization that arise during the content development cycle.
Succession Planning: The practice of preparing employees for advancement, to ensure continued (or, in some cases, to restore) high quality performance when successors advance to key positions following exits (retirement, promotion, departure or removal) of incumbents. Succession planning from the organizational point of view includes risk assessment in key positions, minimizing risk through appropriate compensation, recognition and management, and assuring the readiness of successors by identifying and training high potential employees. At the individual level, succession planning can engage high potential individuals in charting individual development initiatives appropriate to qualification for targeted positions. Succession planning is usually applied to a small number of key executive positions, but can be expanded according to organizational needs.
