Intellinex, Llc 18161 Essay Example

training centers for multiple courses. Due to Year 2000 concerns, Ernst & Young changed its curriculum-development procedures and what previously took 200 hours to create 1 hour of online training now takes 20 hours. (Walsh 2) Intellinex was able to take advantage of this change. Ernst & Young already had more than 40 clients receiving eLearning services using this unit. Ernst and Young will continue to use Intellinex for internal training through a third party agreement. (Howell 2) Ernst & Young s decision to separate from its online corporate training department was in hopes of increasing the unit s profitability by acquisitions. Intellinex started with more than 400 employees and five major locations. Their focus was providing customized training for clients through satellite, desktop web casting, streaming video, and web-based courses.

Products and Services Details and Evaluation

Intellinex is a provider of a variety of eLearning solutions. They have experience in "instructional design and development, multimedia, leadership, development, measurement, performance consulting, and strategy development," (www.intellinex.com). They can design and develop customized eLearning solutions for customers based on their specific needs. They also provide subscription based and self service solutions where customers can maintain their own eLearning courses and content. Intellinex has also acquired Teach.com who provide online prepackaged courses in business and PC skills. Intellinex "eventually wants to offer its business clients a one-stop shopping for leading products, while capitalizing on Ernst & Young's strength in client service," (Khirallah 1). By building alliances in the information technology eLearning sector rather than developing their own programs they can focus on the non-IT training accounts. Forecasters say, that at this time non-IT training only accounts for 22%

of the revenue but by 2003 it should generate more than half of the eLearning market value. (Howell 3) Intellinex has partnered with Doing Business Globally, an online learning solutions provider that has off the shelf content. Richard S. Bobrow, chief executive officer of Ernst & Young sites their mission is to "equip companies with customized eLearning tools, content, and delivery that can help them outsmart and outperform their competition in the global economy," (Lymer 2). Their website is very well designed and displays a professional quality of work. They provide free demos of their software. They can be downloaded in multiple zipped files and viewed from a computer. They are not interactive but do display the potential of their product and/or services. When viewing the files, they provide screen captures that guide you through the potential of their eLearning solution. The system that Intellinex would set up is very different than one of a traditional eLearning provider. They actually specialize in setting up a system very similar to that of a traditional eLearning provider. Intellinex develops a system for companies that allows them to create an index of classes. Customers can have their program set up so employees can request courses and supervisors approve the course. They provide the program that monitors the student's progress. They even have software that allows the client to set the content completely on their own. The client can choose everything from the display and content of information to the type of questions that will be developed to assess the student. Their market is larger companies that that have a need to create their own internal online courses specific

to the company needs rather than an individual consumer. Individuals would have no need for their services. Their project contracts are usually over $1 million. (Howell 2)

Chairman and Employee Information

Intellinex provided very little information about their Management Philosophy and Team. They provided a short biography of their Chairman and CEO, Michael J. Powers. They sited him as contributing "a strong blend of strategic management, learning, and technology experience to his new positions," (www.intellinex.com). Prior to heading up Intellinex he was a partner with Ernst & Young and Vice Chairman - Professional and Organizational Development. There he was responsible for the learning and change management initiatives in the firm. It goes into further detail and discuss his previous experience both professionally and educationally but does not discuss him management philosophy. There is no other reference to any team that supports him. They currently employee over 500 individuals. If you were interested in a job with their company they describe the company as "a young, creative enterprise that is putting eLearning on the corporate map." They describe the current employees as "a visionary bunch of employees who GET IT!" (www.intellinex.com). They do not describe their corporate culture but in a press release on October 4, 2000 their first day of business employees "danced, sang, cheered and partied their way through celebration day."

Business Model

Intellinex does not explicitly describe its business model. Their CEO does suggest that "One of the things that sets Intellinex apart is that we really understand the power of applied knowledge," (www.intellinex.com). I believe that they are able to reach competitive advantage in part by their LEAP (Learning Environment to Accelerate

Performance) software, which is an eLearning technology suite. This software includes a Learning Management System (LMS) and Learning Development System (LDS). This program is unique to Intellinex and the experience behind the software is a good seller when they present their services to potential clients. They also have their parent company's reputation. "With financial strength and learning expertise of Ernst & Young behind it, Intellinex expects to achieve significant market share and stand out in a highly competitive market," (Lymer 2). When Intellinex was launched, last October, it immediately became on of the largest independent providers of eLearning solutions. Since then it has partnered and acquired additional companies. They realize that the eLearning market is going to consolidate and many of companies will either be bought or not succeed in the next couple years. Their plan is to take advantage of these companies and the opportunities and become larger. They will be able to gain clients on their own, but they are also a subsidiary of Ernst & Young. When clients of Ernst & Young want eLearning services they will look to Intellinex. "Companies want the benefits of eLearning, which include cost savings, convenience, speed and flexibility, coupled with performance results... Intellinex provides that and more," (Lymer 2). They have over 500 employees around the world that are backed with 80 years of experience in the learning business and six years specializing in eLearning. Six years is along time in this new market. With the experience, partners, and finical backing they defiantly have a competitive advantage over other smaller and newer companies.

Analysis of Future

Intellinex appears to be an eLearning company with a bright

future. I believe their biggest advantages are their size and financial backing that they have benefited from since inception. They also have the reputation of Ernst & Young one of the "Big 5". They have identified market trends of eLearning and are actually looking forward to taking advantage of them rather than fear they will be swallowed. Mike Powers claims they "should easily do, in the first year of operations, over $100 million in revenue," (Howell 3). Last year the eLearning sector accounted for $1.1 billion and is expected to grow to $11.4 billion by 2003. With such high forecasts in the first year and a growing market they should maintain their current size and grow. Intellinex excepts their number of clients to triple within the next year. (Howell 2) Some of their clients include Cisco Systems, Inc., Enron, American Express, and Motorola to name only a few they provided. They have already established a partnership with one company and acquired another in less than a year.

Works Cited

Howell, Donna. "Ernst & Young Makes Bid to take Clients to School." Internet & Technology 04 Oct 2000.

Khirallah, Diane. "Ernst & Yound Subsidiary buys eLearning Provider." InformationWeek.com 06 Nov 2000.

Lymer, Andy. "Ernst & Young Launch e-Learning Spin-off called Intellinex." Accounting Education.com 09 Oct 2000.

Online Internet. Available WWW: www.intellinex.com

Walsh, Mary Williams. "Ernst & Young to Spin Off Unit." Technology 02 Oct 2000.