Modern learning ecosystems are bigger than ever. More platforms, more content, more integrations. But size has become part of the problem. In many organisations, learning ecosystems are now so complex that they are harder to navigate, harder to maintain and harder to trust. This blog explores how that complexity builds up, why it’s so common, and what it costs both learners and L&D teams.

Learning ecosystems rarely grow by design

Very few learning ecosystems are intentionally overcomplicated. They usually grow slowly, decision by decision.

A new platform is added to solve a specific problem. A content library is purchased to fill a perceived gap. A legacy system is kept ‘just in case’ because switching it off feels risky.

Each choice makes sense at the time. None of them feel reckless. Over the years, however, these sensible decisions stack up. What began as a manageable ecosystem becomes a dense network of platforms, tools, libraries and overlapping content.

The complexity isn’t planned. It’s inherited.

Platform sprawl feels invisible until it doesn’t

One of the reasons this problem is so hard to address is that platform sprawl builds quietly. Nothing breaks. Nothing fails outright.

Learners can still access learning. Reports can still be pulled. Content is technically available.

But the experience becomes fragmented. Learners are unsure where to go. The same topic appears in multiple places. Different systems serve similar purposes but with slightly different rules.

Over time, people stop exploring the ecosystem and start relying on habit. They return to the one or two tools they already know, while the rest of the ecosystem sits underused but fully maintained.

Legacy content accumulates faster than it retires

Content rarely has a clear end-of-life.

Courses are created to meet a moment, a policy change, or a business priority. When that moment passes, the content often remains. Not because it’s still valuable, but because no one owns the decision to remove it.

Over time, libraries fill with outdated, duplicated or marginally relevant learning. Some of it is still accessed. Much of it is not. But all of it adds weight.

This creates a strange dynamic. The more content exists, the harder it becomes for learners to find what actually matters. The ecosystem feels rich, but also overwhelming.

What this costs learners

For learners, complexity shows up as friction.

They’re asked to navigate multiple platforms with different logins, interfaces and expectations. They encounter content that overlaps, contradicts or feels out of date. They struggle to understand which learning is essential, which is optional, and which can safely be ignored.

When learning ecosystems feel confusing, learners adapt. They minimise effort. They rely on word of mouth rather than systems. They disengage from anything that doesn’t feel immediately useful.

This isn’t resistance. It’s sense-making.

What this costs L&D teams

For L&D teams, the cost is often hidden but significant.

Maintaining multiple platforms requires time, budget and cognitive effort. Reporting becomes more complex. Governance becomes harder. Decisions about where to place new learning become political rather than strategic.

Perhaps most importantly, credibility takes a hit. When stakeholders see underused platforms or bloated libraries, questions start to surface. Why do we have all of this? What value is it really delivering?

These are difficult questions to answer when nothing has ever been formally retired.

Why simplification feels risky

If complexity is such a problem, why does it persist?

Because turning things off feels dangerous.

Decommissioning platforms raises concerns about disruption. Retiring content triggers anxiety about compliance, edge cases and historical decisions. Simplification can feel like admitting past choices were wrong, even when they were reasonable at the time.

As a result, many teams default to addition rather than subtraction. It feels safer to layer something new on top than to remove something old underneath.

Complexity is becoming an attention problem

As learning ecosystems grow, they also compete for attention internally.

For learners already stretched for time, this abundance becomes a barrier rather than a benefit. The ecosystem feels noisy.

In that sense, learning ecosystem complexity directly contributes to the attention and trust challenges many L&D teams are already grappling with.

The pattern we keep seeing

Across organisations, the pattern is remarkably consistent.

Learning ecosystems don’t fail because they’re too small. They struggle because they’re too full.

Full of platforms that overlap.Full of content that no longer earns its place.Full of decisions that made sense individually but not collectively.

Recognising this isn’t a criticism. It’s a necessary first step.

What this sets up

This blog isn’t about prescribing solutions or advocating for drastic cuts. It’s about naming a problem that many teams feel but rarely have space to address.

In the next blog, we’ll explore how some organisations are starting to simplify their learning ecosystems without breaking them. How they’re approaching decommissioning, content retirement and architectural clarity as design challenges rather than clean-up exercises.

Simplification, when done well, is about making learning easier to trust, easier to navigate and easier to use.

FAQs: Learning ecosystem complexity and platform sprawl

What is a learning ecosystem in L&D?

A learning ecosystem is the combination of platforms, tools, content libraries and processes that support learning across an organisation.

Why do learning ecosystems become so complex over time?

They grow incrementally. New tools and content are added to solve specific problems, while older systems and materials are rarely retired.

What is platform sprawl in learning and development?

Platform sprawl occurs when multiple learning platforms exist with overlapping purposes, creating confusion for learners and overhead for L&D teams.

Why is legacy learning content a problem?

Outdated or low-value content makes it harder for learners to find what matters and increases maintenance and governance complexity.

Is simplifying a learning ecosystem risky?

It can feel risky, especially without clear ownership or governance. However, unmanaged complexity often carries greater long-term risk.