ABC Company – Training Program
ABC Company has 50,000 employees in its headquarters. The company wants to increase employee productivity by setting up an internal software applications training program for its employees. The training program will teach employees how to use business software programs such as Microsoft Office 2000, and Microsoft Project 2000. Courses will be offered in the evening and on Saturdays, and will be taught by qualified volunteer employees. The instructors will be paid $40.00 per hour. In the past, various departments have sent employees to courses offered by local vendors during company time. In contrast to local vendors’ programs, this internal training program should save money on training as well as make people more productive.
The company has decided to use off-the-shelf training materials, but is not sure which vendors’ materials to use. They also need to set up a training classroom, survey employees on what courses they are interested in, find qualified volunteer instructors, and start offering courses. The company wants to offer the first courses within six months.
You have 4 people from various departments available to support the full-time HR person, who will act a project manager. The manager’s hourly rate is $40.00. Two people from the IT department will each spend up to 25% of their time supporting the project, their hourly rate is $50.00. One person is available from the marketing department only 25% of the time at $40.00 per hour, and one person from Corporate is available 30% of the time at $35.00 per hour. The cost to build the classroom is $100,000.
The project will have to conform to the following constraints:
1. The following holidays are observed: Memorial Day (the last Monday in May), July 4th, Labor Day (the first Monday in September), Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November), and December 25th and 26th.
2. If a holiday falls on a Saturday, then Friday will be given as an extra day off; if it falls on a Sunday, then Monday will be given as a day off.
3. The project team works Monday through Friday
4. Lags do not contain any additional costs.
5. You can only spend up to $100,000 to reduce project activities; lags do not contain any additional costs.
Some of the WBS Tasks might include:
o Review off-the-shelf training materials from three vendors
o Determine which materials to use
o Negotiate a contract with the selected vendor
o Develop communications information about the training program.
o Create a survey to determine the number and type of courses needed.
o Solicit qualified volunteers to teach courses
o Coordinate with facilities department to build two classrooms with 20 workstations, a teacher workstation, and overhead projection system.
o Develop a course evaluation form.
What do we need to write for project exclusions ?
To start the training program, ABC Company needs to follow these steps:
1. Review off-the-shelf training materials from three vendors:
- The HR person, along with the support of the available team members, should research and review the training materials offered by different vendors. This can be done by visiting the vendors' websites, contacting them for information, and comparing the content, cost, and suitability of the materials.
2. Determine which materials to use:
- After reviewing the training materials from different vendors, the HR person needs to assess and evaluate them to determine which ones best suit the company's requirements and objectives. Factors to consider may include the comprehensiveness of the material, relevance to the software programs being taught, and cost-effectiveness.
3. Negotiate a contract with the selected vendor:
- Once the HR person has chosen the vendor(s) with the most suitable training materials, they should initiate contract negotiations. This involves discussing the terms and conditions, including the cost for purchasing the materials and any customization or additional support required from the vendor.
4. Develop communications information about the training program:
- The HR person, possibly with the assistance of the marketing team member, should create informative and engaging content to communicate the details of the training program to all employees. This includes explaining the benefits, available courses, schedules, and registration procedures.
5. Create a survey to determine the number and type of courses needed:
- To understand the specific needs and preferences of the employees, the HR person should design and distribute a survey. The survey should gather information on the number of employees interested in participating, their current skill levels, and their preferences for specific courses or software programs.
6. Solicit qualified volunteers to teach courses:
- The HR person, with the help of the team members, should reach out to employees within the company who are experienced and proficient in the software programs being taught. These individuals will act as volunteer instructors for the training courses. The HR person can communicate the opportunity, explain the requirements and benefits of being an instructor, and collect applications from potential volunteers.
7. Coordinate with the facilities department to build two classrooms:
- The HR person, in coordination with the facilities department, needs to plan and execute the setup of training classrooms. This involves determining the required resources, such as workstations, a teacher workstation, and an overhead projection system. The cost to build the classroom is $100,000, which should be managed within the provided budget.
8. Develop a course evaluation form:
- The HR person, with guidance from the team, should create an evaluation form that will be given to the participants at the end of each training course. This form will gather feedback on the effectiveness of the training, the instructor, and suggestions for improvement.
By following these steps, ABC Company can successfully set up its internal software applications training program within the specified six-month timeframe while ensuring effective communication, employee participation, and cost management.