Training

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** Executive summary ** · SMARTest Interactive Whiteboard seeks to promote our products at a competitive price and be accessible to address our customers concerns 24/7 during the sales process. · Once installed, our technical service hotline consultants will provide as-needed 24/7 whiteboard operations troubleshooting for on-site educators. · In order to meet the goals of our interactive whiteboard initiative it is necessary to equip our SMARTest Consulting teams with cutting edge PDAs. · A purchase of 25 phones for 12 SMARTest consulting teams of two and one district manager has been earmarked for the fiscal year. · A short PDA training lunch has been identified for the initial evaluation process, if the PDA purchase is approved by the board. · The district sales manager will select two SMARTest consulting team staff volunteers to lead their peers through the PDA training process. · The staff volunteers will consult with their local PDA phone store and have a sales representative explain cell phone features. · A member of the IT team, a trainer from the Human Resource department will assist. · After the training, the PDA leads will pilot the group one month prior to the rest of the SMARTest consulting team staff. · Area SMARTest consulting teams will gather for lunch after their monthly board meeting for the one hour training session. · Additional training resources, including you tube, links, and forums will be made available on a handout during the session. · The IT department help desk is available as an additional resource. · The following assessment strategy outlines the systematic breakdown of training outcomes. · Initial training costs are estimated to run $4002 for the staff of 25. · Staff performance skills are estimated to be improved by 5%. · Initial assessment data will informally be posted with the close out report.

** Background ** SMARTest is a consulting is a consulting company that services the technology needs of K-12 educational institutions. SMARTest provides the following core services to their clients: · SMARTest markets and installs educational technology hardware systems. · SMARTest designs and markets supporting educational software. · SMARTest provides 24/7 product support.

** Methodology ** SMARTest  human resources, in collaboration with the sales/service department, have determined that the analysis of one training program is needed at this time. Methods for future training will be determined as needed.

1. Measurable objectives for course training will be identified. A one hour training class will be scheduled for a training group of 22 participants. 2. All participants will take a level one assessment on the day of the training. The level one assessment is a brief evaluation of the training class, instructors, and an overall feel from the course. 3. Interviews with the department supervisor and performance monitoring checklists will be used to analyze additional training needs in the future. 4. Additional communication questions will be added to the client survey and monitored by customer service.

** Data collection and analysis ** Human Resources will collect a written statement from the department supervisor pertaining to the efficiency of the cell phones. Help desk clerks will utilize performance monitoring checklists. Customer service will collect client surveys and submit communication findings to the Human resource department. An informal report with quantitative findings and qualitative responses will also be included in the close out report.

** Program costs (approximated) **  **Total Costs = $4002.00** ** Program results ** * An average consulting employee spends 72 minutes a day on the phone. With the training, cell phone proficiency is expected to increase by 5%, Approximately 4 minutes of efficiency each work day will be saved per worker. Employees will spend less time calling the help desk, looking up their manual, troubleshooting on the internet, and erasing important calls due to the training.
 * Instructional Designer || $2080 X .5 hours = || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">$1040.00 ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Instructor Salaries || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">$65 X 6 hours = || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">$390.00 ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Consultant/Service Tech || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">$65 X 22 hours = || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">$1430.00 ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Regional Account Manager || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">$78 X 3 hours = || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">$234.00 ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Technical Service Specialist || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">$65 X 3 hours = || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">$195.00 ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Company Classroom Space || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">$200 X 1 class = || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">$200.00 ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Training Packets || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">$4 X 27 books = || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">$108.00 ||
 * Lunch || $15 X 27 meals = || $405.00 ||
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; text-align: right;">Cost of time new phones will be used (Average 15 % over one year, based on 24 employees) || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; text-align: right;">$3,244,800 X 15% = $486,720.00  ||
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; text-align: right;">*Cost of time new skills will improve performance (5 %) || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; text-align: right;">$486,720 X 5% = $24,336.00  ||
 * || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Costs <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">(- $4002.00)   ||
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">ROI after 12 months = 508% ** ||  **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">ROI = $20334.50 **  ||

** Conclusions and recommendations ** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">PDA training has been identified as a valuable return on investment. It is our recommendation that <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">SMARTest Consulting <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> provide basic PDA training to improve the value of the many usages that the new technology has to offer. Communication errors due to inefficiency from dropped sales calls, poor customer service, and confusing calendar features will slow down business production.

PDA Training Outline

**Scope of Project** : SMARTest Consulting seeks to promote our products at a competitive price and be accessible to address our customers concerns 24/7 during the sales process. In order to meet the goals of our interactive whiteboard initiative, it is necessary to equip our SMARTest consulting teams with cutting edge PDAs. Once installed, our technical service hotline consultants will provide as-needed 24/7 troubleshooting for on-site educators. <span style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Goal** : A purchase of 25 PDA’s for has been tentatively earmarked for the fiscal year. A short PDA training lunch has been identified for the initial evaluation process, if approved by the board. **Audience:** 12 SMARTest consulting teams of two and one district manager. <span style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Design Time:** Approximately 20 hours of design time for a ½ hour training session. HR bills classroom training design at an approximate rate of $2080 per instructor hour. HR will be billing the marketing department for this course for $1040 as we will be allotting a portion of the lunch hour to getting food and post course questions. **Milestones:** <span style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · Project Approval by Board <span style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · Affirmation of Leads <span style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · PDA Purchase <span style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · Pilot Training at the PDA store <span style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · Catering Order <span style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · Training Session <span style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · Close Out Report **Delivery** A short PDA training lunch has been identified for the initial evaluation process. <span style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Content:** A Power Point Presentation and media related graphics will be presented during the learning session. Learner packets will be handed out. A level one course evaluation sheet will be provided to each of the learners at the end of the course. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Staff will learn how to increase productivity by utilizing: · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Phone calls (including speakephone) · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Conference calls and call forwarding · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Texting (forum discussion style) · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Contact lists and client information · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maps/GPS · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Calendar · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Scheduling · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Email · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Task lists · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Access to contracts/data · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Internet enabled · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Record and watch video demos · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Demo to customers via video · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Camera · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Note taking · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Memory card slot for expandable memory · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sync to desktop at office · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Store, view and "work on" documents · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Scan business cards · <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As-needed access to job aids, learning content (text, audio and video)

<span style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Method:** A power point presentation notes packet with large media diagrams will be handed out to each of the learners. Learners will be able to take notes during the training. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. <span style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Training Time:** Lunch will be served upon entering the training at 12:00. The training will start at 12:15. The Power Point Media Presentation will take ½ hour. Trainers will take questions for 10 minutes and then dismiss the class. Learners must turn in their evaluation sheet and PDA contract in order to get a phone, when they are distributed, one month later. <span style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Problems:** With the training being one month before the employees actually receive their phones, employee retention may be limited. It is important to have a hand-out of external links and resources. <span style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Opportunities:** The session will be conducted at lunch right after the monthly staff meeting, that way the employees are already here. The employees will have the opportunity to meet with the help desk staff and have the help desk phone number pointed out in the training packet. **Objectives:** By the end of the training session, learners will be able to utilize the following PDA features with an accuracy of 80 percent or higher. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">1. Enter Text (email, texting, store/view/edit documents, note taking) <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"> 2. Use phone features (Calling, Receiving, Speakerphone, Conference Calls, Call Forwarding) <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"> 3. Enter client information (Contact Lists, Scan Business Cards, Store/View/Edit) <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"> 4. Access information (Access info, memory card) <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"> 5. Create items and tasks through schedule (Calendar, Email, Task List) <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"> 6. Utilize travel aids (Maps, GPS, Expense Tracker) <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"> 7. Record and play demo videos <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"> 8. Access information from the internet <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 9. Back up and sync information/data on PDA to server **Materials:** Power Point presentation, media, learner packet, resource list and course evaluation survey **Stakeholders:**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The district sales manager will select two SMARTest consulting team staff volunteers to lead their peers through the PDA training process. The staff volunteers will consult with their local PDA phone store and have a sales representative explain cell phone features. A member of the IT team and a trainer from the Human Resource department will assist. **Administration and Evaluation:** Human Resources will collect a written statement from the department supervisor pertaining to the efficiency of the cell phones. Help desk clerks will utilize performance monitoring checklists. Customer service will collect client surveys and submit communication findings to the Human resource department. An informal report with quantitative findings and qualitative responses will also be included in the close out report. **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cost: **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The cost of training will run about $ 4002.0 **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">0. ** **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Training value has been forecasted to approximately $20,334.50. The cost of employees’ wages has been factored in to that figure. The cost of the employees being away from their jobs would be zero since they would be having a lunch hour anyhow, **** maximizing the value of the training. ** <span style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Short Term Value: ** Communication errors due to inefficiency from dropped sales calls, poor customer service, and confusing calendar features will slow down business production. <span style="line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">** Long Term Value: ** **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">A return on investment after twelve months will be approximately 508% ** **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Employee morale: **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Employee Morale is forecasted to be positive, as we are anticipating that most of the employees will be excited to get their own company issued PDA. Some employees may be intimidated by the new technology and reluctant to use it. The training will help them become more enthusiastic and comfortable with their new PDA’s.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Motivation **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">: The convenient organization features and cutting edge style will certainly play a factor in motivating employee use. The training will take place after the monthly mandatory sales/service meeting so the employees will already be on campus. An enticing catered lunch will lure the hungry crowd in after the monthly sales/service meeting.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Schedule demands **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">: Schedule demands should be kept to a minimum by giving staff a four week notice to keep their calendars free after the following monthly meeting for the special training session. Most of the staff typically get together and have lunch off campus together after the monthly training sessions and will most likely have the hour clear. Those that are unable to attend can obtain a phone, copy of the power point presentation and learner training by appointment with a Human Resource department. Future employees coming aboard can do the same.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">PDA contract: **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">All employees that are issued a PDA will have to fill out the proper paperwork form provided in the learner’s packet. The course evaluation sheet will be stapled to the top and employees will have to fill out the entire packet before being issued the PDA. The employees will not be allowed to use their PDA’s for personal use unless it is an emergency. If the employee is terminated and does not turn their PDA in, the cost of the PDA will be deducted from the employee’s final paycheck. Employees are responsible for lost, damaged or stolen PDA’s.