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Effective Training is critical to achieving a successful project
In a typical software implementation project, most of the attention and effort is focused on configuring the system, data loading, functionality and performance testing. Whilst some consideration is obviously paid to the issue of training end-users, our experience is that often this area does not get as much prominence as it should.
Covalent conducted a research exercise into the implementation approaches taken by those customers who had successfully implemented the Covalent Performance Management system.
The key finding from the experiences of these 'successful implementations' was the crucial importance of training delivery. Many commented that education and training is particularly important for ensuring that users feel comfortable with the software. Successful approaches included drop-in performance clinics and workshops, tailored team-based training and personalised user guides, which help to encourage and reinforce learning.
Covalent training is underpinned by three principles.
Principle #1: Blended Learning
Covalent's programme of Training options for users of our software is underpinned by the so-called "Blended" Learning approach, by which we mean two things:
- A combination of traditional instructor-led classroom training with electronic & online learning delivered through a mix of media (help documents, lesson plans, electronic tutorials etc).
- Self-paced (where the trainee works through the material at a time and pace to suit them) and Facilitated (our trainer guides users through the training lessons).
We believe that our Blended Training approach delivers a number of important benefits to customers:
- Lower cost than 100% face-to-face training
- Greater convenience and flexibility for users who can do some of the training at their own pace, at a time that suits them best
- Broader application to different learning styles and capabilities
Principle #2: Learning is Workbook-based
All Covalent training materials are structured into "Learning Workbooks" that guide trainees through a logical process of Read it, View it, Do it & Test yourself.
| Read It | View It | Do It | Test Yourself |
|---|---|---|---|
| Read reference & supporting "help" materials such as "Getting Started" & the "Howdy" series (How Do I?) | Electronic Tutorials (online or CD) take you through each lesson screen-by-screen | Work through the training with step-by-step Lessons on your live Training Covalent site | Interactive electronic quizzes to test understanding of each topic's material |
Principle #3: Customised Lesson Plans
Covalent CPM is a comprehensive product that comprises a number of individual modules - Core, Actions, PIs, Risks, Models - which customers purchase in different combinations. Additionally customers typically have a number of different user types, from Site Administrators through to Data Input users, and many variants in between.
We have put in place a menu of training lesson options that we then customise to suit each customer's particular requirements.
We have put in place a menu of training lesson options that we then customise to suit each customer's particular requirements.
| Training Programme Options | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Site administrator Training | Mandatory for all customers, provides full coverage of all Covalent functionality in a three-phase programme |
| 2. | "Train-the-Trainer" Training | Full range of Covalent training materials for customers who want to deliver their own end-user training |
| 3. | End-user Training | Series of training session combining different lesson plans for end-users |
"With limited consistent information on how we were delivering our services to them we had a challenging role to say the least. Although there were basic processes in place and we collected the statutory PIs along with selected local indicators, there were no standard procedures for monitoring and reporting on Performance and no measured way of being able to compare data in a meaningful and consistent format. Only fragmented information was available and action and risk planning was done by each department in an inconsistent manner, making it time consuming and complicated to produce overall corporate performance information. Fortunately we had the budget to implement a PM software solution, and even though some managers in the organisation were initially wary of expenditure it what was perceived to be an "IT project", the results and changed reactions speak for themselves."
— Kevin Douglas, Executive Director, Department of Corporate Policy, Harrogate Borough Council
