I read in some articles on elearning that one of the biggest mistakes that happens in elearning is that the content is developed by trainers and not instructional designers.

How true is this?

We are trying to develop high end IT training material for which the only ones (for the most part) who will have the required knowledge are the trainers. So our logic goes, that once we provide a good LMS/LCMS, the instructors can determine the contents of the course based on their intimate knowledge of the subject and teaching experience.

Is there really a need to invest in engaging instructional designers?

First let me make sure I understand what you are saying... Are you saying that the subject matter experts are also adept at the facilitation of learning? (I'm assuming that because you are saying that the trainers are the ones who know the content...so it sounds as though you took subject matter experts and made them trainers.... or are these people actually well-versed in adult learning theory, etc.?)

Hello, the trainers/facilitators we are looking at are IT professionals and they already teach on a part time basis. So over the years they have developed teaching skills and have developed their own notes. Apart from that, they have no formal training as either trainers and/or as content developers. But that said, they have proven to be effective and we have checked some references.

We want to know the risk of not using professional content developers to do the content development.

Thanks.

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have developed their own notes.

If you rely on instructors with no formal training, and they are using their own notes as teaching material, you are taking a huge risk. You can't expect to get something for nothing. I don't think you will find the answer you want - which is for someone to say essentially that there is no risk to taking shortcuts with course development.

Are you wanting to develop classroom training, eLearning, or both?

Both require specific skills and I'd highly recommend having instructional designers design the content. If eLearning, then you will definitely need highly trained technical folks who know how to program, use animation, graphics, audio, and video software, etc.