Right from the start of the project, the participant training should be a focus area. It is recommended that the client
appoint one person to work with the consultant and to be responsible for all the activities concerning the development
of training material and the planning of the roll out. This single point of contact will help the client:
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Select the right strategy and stick to it
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Give the participant training a high priority, and get the best people on board, both for the development and
the training
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Have a chance to find the right people who are analytical and have the necessary skills and abilities to
develop or present training material
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Introduce the instructors gradually to the system or package well before the Train-the-Trainer class, so they
have time to digest all the information
Check what the client's previous experience has been in training situations. Learn about the organization's culture and
previous reactions, and what works and what does not work in their environment.
The development work must be carefully coordinated with the implementation of the Change Program. Changes in the
implementation should be reflected in the training material, and strict change request procedures must be put in place
to ensure coordination.
The key risks should be presented to the client before the specification of the education material is completed. Risk
areas could include:
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Tools: Will the participants have the right tools on their desk when they have finished the training? Will
testing be successfully completed? Participants can quickly become disillusioned if they perceive problems.
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Material: Has the material been targeted at the correct level? Are learning skills sufficient?
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Time scales: Are the schedules realistic ? Has time been allowed for translating the material into other
languages ?
If the training material is changed as a result of a change in the Change Program, in the middle of rolling out the
classes, consider using available communication channels, sending out flyers, and updated material explaining what and
where the changes are.
If training is to be delivered in several languages, consider how translation is to be handled and what is the best way
of organizing the material. Be realistic about the time needed for the translation of the material (it takes longer
than you think!)
As the project progresses keep the participants informed about the plans for their training. This will help prepare
them for the training and cut down on the time needed on the course for extraneous topics.The planned lengths of the
time for training modules may need to be adjusted as the material is developed.
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