Demystifying Technical Training : Partnership, Strategy, and Execution

by Wendy L. Combs; Bettina M. Davis

• ISBN13: 9780470634523
• ISBN10: 0470634529
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2010-06-01
• Publisher: Pfeiffer
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

What Is Technical Training?

The Complete Training Suite for Technical Experts

Technical Training Defined

Technical Functional Training

Personal Effectiveness Training

Business Training

Analogous Content Types

Technical Training and Related Activities

Product Development

Customer Training

Technology and Computer-Based Training

Human Resource Generalist Work

Summary: The Power of a Common Language

Challenges and Opportunities for Technical Training

Environmental Factors

Lack of a Common Understanding

Evolution of Technical Training

Perception Versus Reality of Technical Training

The Need for a Strong Lobby

The Impact of a Declining Economy

Organizational Considerations

Ownership of Technology and Enabling Activities

Legitimacy of Technical Training

Involvement in Technology Implementations

The Role in Continuous Improvement Initiatives

Capability Aspects

The Tension Between Two Core Competencies

Integration of Technical Training into Talent Management

Availability of Career Paths for Technical Employees

Skills Mastery Over the Course of a Career

Summary: The Value Proposition for Technical Training

Differentiators of Technical Training

What Are Differentiators?

Analysis

Focus

Trigger

Planning Horizon

Formal and Informal Learning

e-Learning

Design

Availability of Content

Granularity of Content and Audience Size

Contextualization

Coopetition

Subject-Matter Expert (SME) Involvement

Development

Evolutionary Versus Revolutionary

Refresh Cycles

Standardization and Certification

Implementation

Learning and Unlearning

Release Timing

Volunteer Instructors (VIs)

Waterfall Deployment

Evaluation

Causality

Measurability

Consequence of Errors

Escalations

Overarching Differentiators

Cost

Expertise

Trust

Summary: The Potential of Differentiators

Stakeholders of Technical Training

Technical Training Stakeholder Needs

Executives Expect Tangible Outcomes

Managers Want Skill Gaps Addressed

Technical Leaders Need Support for Technology

Technical Experts Want Accurate Content

VIs Need Recognition

Employees Want Training Options

Collaboration and Governance Structures

Sponsors Champion Technical Training

Advisory Teams Develop Content

Training Organizations Collaborate

Human Resources Partners with Training

Steering Committees Align and Govern Training

Stakeholder Support and Buy-In

Identification and Classifi cation of Stakeholders

A Team Approach to Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder Management Techniques

Summary: The Requirements for Collaboration

Technical Training Strategy

Primer on Strategy

Definition of Strategy

Alignment to Business Objectives

Strategic Planning Process

Components of Strategy

Vision and Mission Statements

Strategic Objectives

Guiding Principles

Business and Operating Models

Portfolio of Products and Services

Technical Training Roadmap

Capabilities to Execute the Strategy

Skill Capabilities

Process Capabilities

Technology Capabilities

Summary: Setting the Stage for Execution

Getting the Technical Training Agenda Funded

Considerations in Advance of Funding

Identifying Business Reasons for Funding Technical Training

Understanding What Executives Are Looking For

Defi ning Accountability and Ownership

Leveraging Policies and Processes

Setting Up the Budget

Complexities of Training Costs

The Cost of Technical Training

Technical Versus Non-Technical Training Costs

Budgeting Pointers

Managing the Budget

Understanding Return on Investment

Aligning Funding to Evaluation Outcomes

Applying Creativity to Funding

Summary: The Art and Discipline of Budgeting

Staffi ng the Technical Training Organization

Structure of the Training Function

Organizational Reporting Models

Centralization Versus Decentralization

Horizontal Business Functions

Technical Training Skills

Training Skills for Expertise

Business Skills for Credibility

Technical Skills for Accuracy

Project Management Skills for Discipline

Relationship Skills for Stakeholder Engagement

Technical Training Recruiting

Staffing Ratios

Common Technical Training Jobs

Recruiting Sources for Technical Training Professionals

Managing the Technical Training Team

Remote Management

Team Development

Summary: Hiring and Development in a Nutshell

Technical Training Analysis, Design, and Development

Identifying Technical Training Needs

Gathering Stakeholder Input

Training Needs Analysis

Categories of Training Needs

Opportunities for Data Gathering

Prioritizing Technical Training

Prioritization and Decision Making

Closed-Loop Communication

Designing the Technical Training Portfolio

Developing Technical Training Programs

Building Technical Training Courses

Categorizing Courses into Curriculums

Summary: Stakeholders Participate Throughout the Training Life Cycle

Marketing of Technical Training

Why Market Technical Training?

Hurdles to Marketing Technical Training

Building Marketing Competency

Underlying Motivation for Marketing

Understanding the Product

Dispelling Misconceptions

Reading the Signs of Diminishing Value

Marketing Principles Applied to Technical Training

Describe the Value Proposition

Defi ne the Target Market

Categorize and Differentiate Products

Brand Technical Training

Develop a Marketing Plan

Choose the Right Marketing Tools

Common Sense and Marketing Technical Training

Use Emotional Drivers

Make Engagement Easy

Summary: The Prospect of Marketing Technical Training

Technical Training Delivery and Evaluation

Preparation for Training Delivery

Piloting Training Solutions

Establishing a VI Base

Preparing Instructors for Training Delivery

Modes of Technical Training Delivery

Classroom, e-Learning, and Blended Training

Hands-On Components and Simulations

Social Networking and Collaborative Technology

Vendor-Supplied Technical Training

Mandatory and Compliance-Driven Training

Evaluating Technical Training

Transfer of Training to the Job

Evaluation of Technical Training Programs

Summary: Learning from Technical Experts

Glossary

References

About the Authors

Index

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