CS27510 Commercial CS27510 Commercial Database ApplicationsDatabase Applications

TrainingTraining

BenefitsBenefits

• The company cannot achieve any The company cannot achieve any benefits unless the staff are well benefits unless the staff are well trainedtrained

• It would be a waste of investment to It would be a waste of investment to roll out the system with out trained roll out the system with out trained staffstaff

• Management must be made aware Management must be made aware and committed and committed

Setting training goalsSetting training goals

• First objective in software training for end-First objective in software training for end-users is users is – Minimising any productivity losses associated Minimising any productivity losses associated

with the software transition with the software transition – As quickly as possible, get them up to the skill As quickly as possible, get them up to the skill

level required to do their jobs at least as level required to do their jobs at least as quickly and accurately as they were doing with quickly and accurately as they were doing with old software (or manual methods)old software (or manual methods)

– Then in the next phase, you want the software Then in the next phase, you want the software to help users do their jobs more quickly, to help users do their jobs more quickly, accurately, and/or securely than before. accurately, and/or securely than before.

TimescalesTimescales

• Be realistic about the timeframes in Be realistic about the timeframes in which you expect to accomplish which you expect to accomplish these objectivesthese objectives

• These timeframes will be dependent These timeframes will be dependent on:on:– the complexity of the new softwarethe complexity of the new software– number of users who need training and number of users who need training and

their beginning skill levelstheir beginning skill levels

Remember!Remember!

• All software packages aren't created All software packages aren't created equal and neither are all users. equal and neither are all users.

Assessing end-user Assessing end-user needsneeds • An important element in creating your An important element in creating your

training plan is to evaluate the technical training plan is to evaluate the technical skill levels of those who will actually use skill levels of those who will actually use the software on a daily basisthe software on a daily basis– In many cases, software end-users are not In many cases, software end-users are not

particularly technically savvy particularly technically savvy – You may have different technical skill levels You may have different technical skill levels

within a group. within a group.

Separate Skill LevelsSeparate Skill Levels

• Technical novices will need more Technical novices will need more focused, step-by-step instruction in focused, step-by-step instruction in basics basics

• More skilled computer users will More skilled computer users will quickly pick up the basics quickly pick up the basics – Can benefit from more trainingCan benefit from more training– Shows them how to use more obscure or Shows them how to use more obscure or

advanced features of the software. advanced features of the software.

Don’t mix trainingDon’t mix training

• Attempting to train the two groups Attempting to train the two groups together will result intogether will result in– the novices being overwhelmed and the novices being overwhelmed and

confused confused – the more skilled users wasting time that the more skilled users wasting time that

could have been spent doing their workcould have been spent doing their work

Training delivery Training delivery methodsmethods

• Several factors that you need to take Several factors that you need to take into consideration:into consideration:– User skill levels as determined by your User skill levels as determined by your

needs assessment needs assessment – Number of users to be trained Number of users to be trained – Timeframe for rollout of the softwareTimeframe for rollout of the software

Types of DeliveryTypes of Delivery

• Individual hands-on instructor Individual hands-on instructor

• Hands-on, classroom-style Hands-on, classroom-style instructor-led traininginstructor-led training

• Seminar style group Seminar style group demonstrationdemonstration

• Computer Based TrainingComputer Based Training

• Book-based self-paced training Book-based self-paced training

Individual hands-on Individual hands-on instructorinstructor

• An instructor walks each user An instructor walks each user individually through the process of individually through the process of performing common tasks and performing common tasks and answers questionsanswers questions

• This is the most expensive method, This is the most expensive method, although potentially the most although potentially the most effective effective

Hands-on, classroom-style Hands-on, classroom-style instructor-led traininginstructor-led training

• An instructor shows users how the An instructor shows users how the software works and how to perform software works and how to perform common taskscommon tasks

• Users performing the tasks Users performing the tasks themselves in a classroom/lab setting themselves in a classroom/lab setting

• Each user or pair of users has a Each user or pair of users has a computer on which to practice computer on which to practice

• Classes of 15 to 30 are often effective Classes of 15 to 30 are often effective

Seminar style group Seminar style group demonstrationdemonstration

• An instructor shows users how the An instructor shows users how the software works and how to perform software works and how to perform common tasks in a live common tasks in a live demonstration.demonstration.

• Groups of 20 to 50 are often Groups of 20 to 50 are often effective. effective.

Computer Based TrainingComputer Based Training

• CD-based or online self-paced training CD-based or online self-paced training

• Allows end-users to complete interactive Allows end-users to complete interactive lessonslessons

• System walks them through the System walks them through the processes of performing common tasks processes of performing common tasks

• The software tests them on their The software tests them on their performance and understanding. performance and understanding.

Book-based self-paced Book-based self-paced trainingtraining

• End-users complete workbook End-users complete workbook lessonslessons

• How to perform common tasks, How to perform common tasks, – illustrated with screenshotsillustrated with screenshots

Creating a training Creating a training programmeprogramme• Some elements of your lesson plan Some elements of your lesson plan

should include:should include:– The purpose of the software. The purpose of the software. – Tasks the user will complete with the Tasks the user will complete with the

software software – How it differs from previous versions or How it differs from previous versions or

products it's replacing (if applicable) products it's replacing (if applicable) – Common problems users may encounter Common problems users may encounter – Security issues related to the softwareSecurity issues related to the software