"There is an experience that is shared among employees across multiple organizations and industries. It is that training program or system that everyone knows is outdated and frankly brings minimal value, yet no one is taking action to scrap or recreate. It might be a compliance course that was recorded years ago, is missing information, or exists in a platform that people rarely use. This and other examples are what we call the "dead horse" of learning."
"This theory has been named after the saying, "When you discover you're riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount." You might have also heard it as "you can't ride (or beat) a dead horse." These phrases symbolize the futility of continuing to waste your efforts and resources on something that no longer works. In terms of an organization, a "dead horse" is any strategy, system, or program that has outlived its usefulness and only continues to exist out of habit."
Organizations often maintain training programs that are outdated, incomplete, or hosted on unused platforms, creating a "dead horse" that wastes resources and disengages employees. The dead horse theory advises dismounting from strategies, systems, or programs that have outlived usefulness rather than persisting from habit. Training becomes obsolete when organizations evolve, markets change, or content and delivery are neglected. Indicators include low engagement, missing or outdated content, poor platform fit, and declining performance metrics. Recognizing failure requires measurement, stakeholder feedback, and leadership willingness to retire or redesign programs to align learning with current organizational needs.
Read at eLearning Industry
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