The Right Training for Each User

Levels of Training
Migration programs typically have three layers of training: application development, systems engineering, and desktop user. Understanding these layers is important because they dictate how much and what type of training (budget) your IS staff and users need. Microsoft had the insight to fragment its certification program to fit these IT support layers three years ago when it introduced the Microsoft Roadmap to Education and Certification. (Microsoft re-cently changed the name and focus of the Roadmap to Microsoft Training and Certification. To find out about Microsoft's Training and Certification program, visit the Web site.)

Application Development
The application development layer is for individuals writing code or scripts with languages such as SQL, Visual Basic (VB), and C++ for client or server applications. These individuals need to receive core classroom technology training in the Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) certification program. You can supplement this training with economical support documentation from Microsoft Press.

Systems Engineering
Systems engineers build and maintain IS infrastructure components, including networks, network servers, application servers, and operating systems. Because these components are mission-critical resources, training based on a certification track is important.

Microsoft provides training for these systems engineers through its Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) program. Although many companies realize that certification testing ensures a baseline of core knowledge, they don't generally appreciate the constant flow of current information on Microsoft technology in terms of updates, fixes, and techniques that an MCSE taps into. Certification testing forces a fledgling engineer to explore a broad base of technologies. You can be sure an MCSE will not attempt to generate an NT system without knowing what's involved.

Desktop User
Pinpointing the appropriate amount of training for desktop users in any organization is difficult because different users have different needs and varying degrees of understanding. In addition, the quest to make training relevant creates the requirement of customizing these classes to fit the needs of the business. For example, suppose you need to provide Microsoft Word training to a legal department using the company's legal templates. You might give the staff a half-day jump-start class to help acquaint the users with the upgraded features of a migration (such as a Windows 3.1 to Windows 95 upgrade) and later provide select users advanced training through CBTs.

You can even purchase easy-to-use skills-assessment tools to go with CBTs for desktop users. "ExecuTrain CBTs come with skills assessment tools," says Kevin Brice, ExecuTrain's vice president of technical training. "After the users take the test, the courseware highlights the sections they need to study and thereby eliminates wasted terminal or classroom time."

Developing Your Plan
Table 2 presents a matrix of training options by job definition to help you decide what level of training each user needs. After you've applied this matrix to your users, you can turn this analysis into a budget for your migration training project and begin to look for a local, national, or international training provider to deliver these services.

Qualifying and Finding Training Providers
When you're searching for a training provider, try three approaches. First, call your local Microsoft branch and ask the regional education manager for referrals. Second, call the Information Technology Training Association (ITTA) and ask for a list of member companies. ITTA is a trade organization that meets annually to discuss ways to improve the quality of training. Finally, visit Microsoft, Edusearch, or VUE online to find a training provider over the Internet.

To do justice to the topic of selecting a training provider would take several white papers. My primary advice is to test drive before you buy. Visit local training companies to get a feel for their facilities and review their evaluation logs. For CBTs, have your users try several vendors before you buy multiple licenses. When dealing with customization, ask for references from the training provider's previous three engagements (this step will help ensure that you don't get the vendor's best three references).

Only some of the thousands of companies offering training on Microsoft technology are certified Microsoft ATECs. Again, certification of instructors, schools, and courseware is your insurance that a training provider is willing to invest in quality. Knowing that a training provider is certified is a good start, but not a replacement, for obtaining detailed references.

TABLE 1: Microsoft Training Solutions

TABLE 2: Training Deployment Options by Job Definition

School and Certification Program Resources:

CareerAgent
Web: http://www.careeragent.com

CBT Systems
* 415-614-5900
Web: http://www.cbtsys.com

Edusearch
* 303-694-0777 or 888-694-0777
Web: http://www.edusearch.com

ExecuTrain * 770-667-7700
Web: http://www.executrain.com

Global Knowledge Network
* 800-332-5656
Web: http://www.globalknowledge.com

Information Technology Training Associates
* 512-502-9300
Web: http://www.itta.org

Microsoft Online Institute
Web: http://moli.microsoft.com

Microsoft Press
Web: http://www.microsoft.com/mspress

Microsoft Training and Certification
Web: http://www.microsoft.com/train_cert

Microsoft Training Provider Database
Web: http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/train_cert/locator/locator0.idc

New Horizons
Web: http://www.newhorizons.com

Productivity Point
Web: http://www.productivitypoint.com

VUE
* 612-897-7999
Web: http://www.vue.com