Standard : Engineering Learning Hours per Person

Description

Engineering Learning Hours per Person measures the average amount of time engineers spend on deliberate learning activities over a given period (typically quarterly or annually). This includes formal training, courses, technical conferences, reading time, hands-on labs, peer-led sessions, and mentorship.

It signals the organisation’s investment in upskilling and supports long-term capability, adaptability, and satisfaction in engineering roles.

How to Use

What to Measure

  • Count total learning hours recorded by engineers (individually or in aggregate).
  • Types of activities can include: technical courses, cloud labs, certification prep, team knowledge shares, conferences, mentoring sessions.

Formula

Learning Hours per Person = Total Learning Time Logged / Total Engineers

Segment by:

  • Individual, team, department, or capability domain
  • Learning format (structured vs informal)
  • Learning focus area (tools, techniques, soft skills, leadership)

Instrumentation Tips

  • Use a shared tracking system or lightweight form for engineers to log hours.
  • Encourage tagging for skill areas or alignment to learning goals.
  • Cross-reference with development plans or performance reviews for depth.

Why It Matters

  • Future readiness: Engineers stay current with fast-evolving tech landscapes.
  • Capability growth: Improves problem-solving, design, and operational excellence.
  • Retention and morale: Learning opportunities contribute to employee satisfaction and career fulfilment.
  • Culture of curiosity: Encourages exploration, cross-pollination, and self-directed growth.

Best Practices

  • Offer protected time for learning (e.g. 1–2 hours per week).
  • Match learning content to team objectives and individual goals.
  • Publicise available resources (platforms, budgets, shadowing opportunities).
  • Share learnings broadly (e.g. team demos, writeups, internal talks).

Common Pitfalls

  • Tracking becomes performative without actual learning value.
  • Learning is deprioritised under delivery pressure.
  • Only formal training is counted, excluding rich informal channels.
  • No reinforcement or reflection on how learning was applied.

Signals of Success

  • Engineers are logging meaningful hours in a range of formats.
  • Teams discuss and apply learnings in retrospectives or planning.
  • Shared learning resources increase in visibility and usage.
  • Learning hours trend upwards or remain stable even during busy periods.
  • [[Number of Learning Experiments per Quarter]]
  • [[CoE/Lean/Measures/Continuous Learning & Experimentation/Time Allocated to Improvement Work]]
  • [[Mentorship Engagement Rate]]
  • [[Certifications Completed per Quarter]]
  • [[Internal Skill Share Attendance]]