Training methodologies involve technical and functional training. There cannot be one uniform training instrument and content for all types of stakeholders. The training content and the specific instruments used to impart such training have to be specific to the needs and requirements of the stakeholders impacted by the new system.
Typically in any organization, when you introduce a new system, the stakeholders impacted are:
Top / Senior Management – Top / Senior Management has to understand the need for the system at a strategic level and also appreciate how the system addresses current problems and improves the overall business. Such understanding and appreciation is required not only to drive the active usage of the system within the organization but also to derive the foreseen benefits from the system. Also, Top / Senior Management influence / determine the entire life cycle of the system starting from its conception, to deployment, usage and finally betterment / enhancement. Therefore, Top / Senior Management need to be trained on the appropriate aspects of the system.
End Users – These are the most important stakeholders as far as the system is concerned. Through their usage or lack of it, they can directly influence the success of the system and the project. It is therefore imperative that they be given extensive training not only on the usage of the new system but the business imperatives behind the requirement for the new system.
User Administrators – These set of users are usually involved in administration of application security on a day today basis. They need to be trained on the security concepts as implemented in the system and its usage.
System Administrator / IT Staff – These set of users perform system administration / maintenance activities so that the application is always available for the business to operate. They need to be sensitized on the concepts of business continuity and disaster recovery, the steps that need to be taken to ensure continuous availability of the system, routine maintenance activities etc.
Contributed by : K. Shyaam Sunder, Chief Knowledge Officer, Ramco Systems
