5 Corporate Technology Training Best Practices
Tips from Your Corporate Training Company
The workplace continues to change rapidly as technological advancements seem to be never ending. Software, social media and hardware are all part of this tech revolution and can pose some serious challenges for organizations that must offer technology training to remain up to speed and maintain their competitive edge.
Although the dependency on technology varies depending on timing and industry, most businesses are required to introduce it at some level to their workforce. New technologies help companies increase efficiency and speed, create barriers to block entry for competitors, reduce long-term costs and create new markets that would have otherwise been unreachable. For these reasons, quick user adoption is critical.
Technology upgrades and new roll-outs are also one of the most dreaded of changes by employees! Some of it is due to a fear of the unknown, some to the task of having to relearn how to use a tool that seems to be working "just fine" currently, and some is simply having the available time to learn how to use the new technology.
Change is difficult, but it is essential to properly prepare employees for the new technology by providing adequate communication and training.
Take a look at through our free download to start thinking through the 5 key areas of consideration when designing a technology roll-out. This free Technology User Adoption Checklist eBook provides an easy to use checklist categorized into 5 phases.
Here at TrainingFolks, we help ensure a successful technology implementation for clients across the globe in a range of languages and within a multitude of industries.
In order to ensure a smooth transition into the new technology, consider these 5 best practices for software implementation training, compiled by the experienced Instructional Designers here at TrainingFolks.
1. Reverse the 80/20 rule. Focus the initial "go-live" training primarily on the core 20% of the functionality that the employees will use 80% of the time. Initial training should concentrate on Speed to Efficiency of the greatest usage of the system. As part of your learning strategy consider ongoing or continuous education including additional functionality.
2. Modality Selection. Align delivery modality to learner objectives and transfer. Instructor-led training in a hands-on lab environment is great for the "go-live" training. However, if the user will only complete a task occasionally, provide them with “How to" quick reference materials or leverage an Electronic Performance Support System.
3. Practice, Practice, Practice. Often we see new application training that “tells” about the system or “shows” the system (particularly in e-learning courses). In proficiency-oriented training such as software training, give the employee access to the software or a simulation environment. In fact, training is often more effective if they explore the program first, before attending the session. Remember, a key objective for the training is having the users demonstrate proficiency during the training.
4. Train from the real world. Deliver training in a stable systems environment that mirrors the real life environment. Creating "true-life" context, with real-world challenges, will make it easier to transfer new knowledge and skills to job duties. If an application screen is going to change after the training then training would be counterproductive to user adoption.
5. Don’t overwhelm them. Technology training doesn’t need to be complicated. However, for many employees learning a new system can be overwhelming. A few ideas to mitigate that feeling and increase adoption would be: keep them informed of the rollout progress, "sell the benefits early", find your champions, link the training to your business processes, celebrate and reward their success, and keep in mind the KISS Principal (keep it simple, silly).
Sometimes a consultation is really all you need to get started down the right path to any successful corporate training initiative.
Get in touch with the global training experts at TrainingFolks today and we’d be happy to spend some time discussing your unique business challenges and your upcoming technology rollout.
