State Farm Insurance –Continuous Learning at Work

1. State Farm Insurance –Continuous Learning at Work Bellevue University MSM 620 Robin Soderblom June 28, 2013

2. Introduction • Interview with State Farm’s “top-level” Agent – Kris Y. • State Farm’s Mandatory Learning • State Farm’s Continuing Education • State Farm University • State Farm’s Emphasis on Learning • State Farm’s focus on future learning

3. My State Farm Executive -Interviewee • Kris Y. has been an employee of State Farm for 15 years • She started her State Farm career as a claims’ adjustor – specializing in disaster-related claims • She has been a State Farm Agent for 12 years • She has consistently been a “top 5 agent” within the company • She is very familiar with the learning and learning objectives that “take place” within the State Farm organization

4. Kris Y’s “take” on State Farm’s Position on Learning • Kris Y. views State Farm as a learning organization • Kris Y. reports that State Farm has always placed an emphasis on learning because of the licensing requirements that are a part of each State Farm position • Kris Y. feels that State Farm University’s course offerings are “second to none” in the Insurance industry • Kris Y. feels that State Farm encourages all forms of continuing education

5. Mandatory Learning • Each of State Farm’s employees must have a licensure issued to him or her from the State that he or she will be working in • Each license requires different courses of study in order to be able to successfully pass the state exam required for each type of licensure • There are a myriad of different licensures required for the different types of jobs that are present within State Farm – some positions require multiple licensures which means that the employee must be able to learn the information required to be able to obtain the licensure from the State Insurance Commission

6. Continuing Education • Each license possessed by a State Farm employee has different Continuing Education requirements “imposed on the license holder” by the State Insurance Commission • These continuing education requirements are a minimum of 24 hours of study per year followed by a competency exam facilitated to the employee by the State Insurance Commission • At least 12 hours of the 24 hours of study required for Continuing Education Credit must be on the subject of ethics

7. State Farm University • Each State Farm employee must attend the “university” • Each State Farm “position” has specific coursework which must be studied and a corresponding exam must be passed in order for the employee to be able to work in his or her position at State Farm • Once employed with State Farm there is ongoing training through State Farm University – both online and in a classroom format

8. State Farm Places Emphasis on Education and Learning • Agents are “the” integral part of State Farm’s revenue generation and future success – State Farm agents who are starting with the organization must have a Bachelor’s degree in order to be placed in the position • State Farm encourages learning and education through various tuition reimbursement programs • State Farm offers various scholarship programs to employees and to employees’ family members

9. Future Learning Within State Farm • State Farm strives to continually improve the content and quality of the courses offered from State Farm University • State Farm is looking at the possibility of pay rates being partially set according to one’s education level • State Farm is looking at the possibility of providing bonuses to employees who earn degrees (through the PhD. Level) while being employed with State Farm • Many of State Farm’s positions offer varied hours and flexible work schedules so that employees may attend classes and further their education

10. Conclusion • Kris Y. feels that State Farm has put an emphasis on learning and education in the past, currently strives to be a learning organization and, will continue to strive to be a learning organization in the future • State Farm is making plans to place value on learning and education in terms of State Farm University’s course offerings, tuition reimbursement, scholarship opportunities and, monetary reward • State Farm appears to be a “learning” organization