Business Analysis Project Management

Training

All projects can be enhanced with proper training.

Even re-locating the fax machine; if users aren't told how it works or where they can now find it, the change won't be appreciated.

For training to be effective it needs to be an integral part of any project delivery plan.

The time and resources required for training need to be identified early on. Costs and benefits should be part of the initial business case and the consequences of inadequate or ill-timed training noted as a significant risk.

Objectives

The purpose of training is not to sit people down and make them learn. It is about communicating the effects of change and equiping them with the tools/knowledge to benefit from, and add value to, that change.

Why - training is often seen as a perk that staff receive and there are executives and managers who do not understand that the real beneficiaries are their customers, and therefore their businesses.

Think of the times you've been confronted by someone whose job it was to help or advise you, only to find that they were clueless to the point where you knew more about what was required than they did. Clearly there was a lack of training, and had it been delivered then you, the customer, would have been the real beneficiary.

Who - it is unrealistic to expect people to design or deliver an effective training schedule just because they are familiar with the project. Training is a skill requiring aptitude and a thorough, professional approach.

When - receiving instruction too early can be as useless as receiving it too late. People need to transfer skills learned in theory into real world practice for them to be really effective. The more time between training and operation, the more process steps will be missed and bad habits incurred.

What - Many training programmes are delivered almost as a sales pitch to show how wonderful and exceptional the new system is. Often, all that's needed is a brief outline of what's different and how to handle the changes. You should analyze and identify relevant skills gaps and tailor your training to fill these needs.

Where - do you have the facilities to provide traing in or near the workplace? There is no doubt that delivery in situ can be very cost effective and less disruptive than offsite training but you must ensure that distractions and familiarity with the surroundings do not dissipate the package.

How - there are many more options now available for delivering training and different media is suitable for different subjects and people. IT specialists may be quite happy to work their way through an online help system whereas most non-techies prefer printed materials, and yet more like hands-on workshops, tutorials or classroom style coaching.

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