Training

Challenge

Successful deployment of an Enterprise Project Management (EPM) solution depends on a diverse group of end users embracing new technology and processes.  It’s no secret that people resist change – until they see the benefit they’ll receive and the manage support driving the change.  An enterprise project management solution faces three major hurdles for every end user:

·         The user must understand basic project management concepts and embrace their value.  EPM technology is designed to support EPM best practices.  Project managers, executives, and resource managers must understand underlying EPM principles in order to understand the technology.  Even team members need to understand the basic purpose of EPM and its value to their daily tasks.

·         A user simply needs to know how the application works: what can they accomplish and how does each feature work?    The EPM solution contains a rich and powerful feature set. Unlocking the power using a “trial and error” learn-it-yourself approach extends the learning curve, delays the benefits, and produces inconsistent results.  

·         EPM features follow workflows.  Gaining the benefit of many EPM features requires a series of actions. So each user must understand EPM workflows for their own role and their own organization.

To add to the challenge, the EPM system is designed to provide different feature sets for different kinds of users.  Executives use different parts of the system than team members.  Project managers use more features than resource managers.  That means there is no ‘one size fits all’ training solution.  The best training for project managers could be a complete waste of time for team members.

Solution

Effective end user training is an essential component of an EPM deployment.  The best training integrates hands-on practice, detailed explanations and examples, and models that make it easy to understand complex systems.  There must also be a healthy dose of project management practices. 

Role Based

The EPM solution is designed for a variety of roles – a perfect model for the training to follow.  Accomplish this by viewing the EPM feature set from the view of each EPM user and break the training into relevant pieces.  The result will be role-based modules.  Role-based modules reduce overall training costs because users only spend time learning features that matter to them.

Workflow Based

EPM workflows represent best practice project management tailored to the organization’s project environment.  The courseware should be organized according to the workflows, teaching the features that support the workflow.  With this approach, users learn the features in the context of their job.  Workflow based training beats feature based training every time.

Useful for Reference

Training begins in the classroom, but it continues on the job.  The courseware used in the classroom must provide detailed explanations, describing exactly how to use the application because that’s what users will need when they are back at their desks.  Even the smartest users taking the best training won’t remember everything they heard in the classroom.  Good courseware is useful for reference.

Prepares an Administrator

Maintaining and updating the configuration of Project Server 2007 is a special job.  Successful deployments include preparing a limited number of users with the additional expertise needed to keep their EPM technology synchronized with their maturing EPM processes.

Hands-on Practice

Humans learn tools best by seeing examples and practicing.  A good rule of thumb is to have a minimum of twenty minutes of hands-on practice for every hour of training delivery.  That includes demonstrations where users follow along with an instructor as well as labs where the user proves they can apply the tool to accomplish a specific job-related task.

Enterprise Project Management Principles

Good trainers often speak of the student’s WIIFM – short for “what’s in it for me?”  Effective training for Microsoft’s EPM solution delivers the WIIFM by explaining basic enterprise project management principles and how those principles make everyone more productive.  When it comes to adopting a new way of working, knowing why is just as important as knowing how.

A Visible Management Commitment to Enterprise Project Management

End-user training should result in people that are both willing and able to use the new technology.  Visible management commitment to the new technology and processes adds to the motivation each user has for embracing a new way of managing work and resources.