Training Staffs in Information Technology Environment

Training involves the orientation of the staffs and members of an organization to understand the use of a newly installed IT product.
The members of the organization are either trained to use a system converted from manual to computerized or an updated system.

A training plan has to be drawn to coordinate the training activities. This plan focuses on covering every possible area in order to eliminate the chances of mistakes. The plan involves focus area for training, details about the training courses, training schedule, roles and responsibilities. The training plan is drawn and organized by the implementation committee.

The focus areas for training are the areas that need the attention of the staffs. When software is developed, the end users mainly concentrate on the concerns for database administrators and network administrators. In a banking environment, the focus areas of training are areas of data entry, data manipulation and data transfer. This is an aspect the whole organization has to be enlightened about.

The details of the training courses that need to be covered during training vary. The operations of an organization vary with respect to the different departments. The procedures carried out and monitored at different management levels are different. IT department focuses on back and services like keeping the server in good working condition. The account department focuses on the sales transaction records and account balance. The human research department focuses on recruitment and personnel management. These factors will make the nature of the training courses vary. In a scenario of change over from manual to automated system, the first concern of the trainee is the level of computer literacy of the staffs. The courses will vary among the staffs if some have computer knowledge and others don’t. The courses will be broken down into modules. This is to ensure a systematic and productive training.

A training schedule is prepared for different members of an organization. This will normally be in batches to ensure that work continues in the organization. The training period is longer during manual to automated changeover periods. The training is faster and easier during updating of existing systems.

Roles and responsibilities are shared among the staffs. Work load increase for some while it reduces for others. Different managers share responsibilities among staffs based on the implementation of the new system.

METHODS OF TRAINING
The staffs of an organization are trained to use a new IT software or system using different methods. These methods include seminars, video conferencing, video tutorial soft wares, audio tutorial soft wares and software manuals.

Seminars are held in auditoriums to enlighten the staffs of the organization on the use of new system. Projectors, networked computers, chalk boards and public address systems are used to communicate the usage concept of the system to the staffs.

Video conferencing is also used to teach the members of an organization on how to use a new system. An online lecture will be given at specific times. The staffs will use the necessary facilities to keep in touch with the trainees. They have options of asking question in situations of confusion.
Video tutorial soft wares are also prepared by the software development team. These depict IT experts giving a step by step instruction on how to use the system.

Audio tutorial soft wares are also prepared. This ensures the continuous importation of knowledge about the software until they get acquainted to it. These files come in audio CDs and downloadable sound files. They can be heard on computer systems, mobile phones, I-pads and personal digital assistant.

Software manuals are also prepared after the completion of the project. These manuals are e-book or hard copy books. They contain full information on the operations and use of the newly implementation system. Multiple copies of these manuals are delivered to the organization after deployment to ensure that all staffs get a copy.

These are various methods used to train the members of an organization on how to use a newly deployed system. Staffs that are unable to comprehend the usage of the new systems are either transferred to other departments or given more time to get acquainted with the system.

THE HUMAN FACTORS IN SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
AND IMPLEMENTATION
There are different people involved in system development and implementation process. They are customers, and users, project sponsors, software development team, regulators and test management team.

The customer is the most important stakeholder. The customer pays for the project. It is therefore essential for the customer to validate project deliverables.
The end-users are people who operate the IT solution. They include a diverse set of people with varied roles and requirements. End-users are important in the requirement gathering phase. This is to understand their requirements for the proposed IT solution.

The project sponsor is a person appointed by the customer to coordinate the project development team on its behalf. The project sponsor is responsible for providing all the resources needed to execute the project.

The software development team is responsible for the development issues in the project. The members of this team include the software architect, functional manager, resource manager, network manager, line manager, team leader, database developer, creative designer, domain expert and programmer.

The software architect designs the structure and architectural patterns of the IT solution.
The functional manager ensures that goals and objectives are aligned with the development teams overall strategy and vision during system development.

The resource manager ensures that the people resources needed for the development of a system are recruited and made available.

The network manager facilitates and monitors the network activities needed in the IT solution.
Line manager heads the revenue generating department. He executes functions like policy making, target setting, and decision making to make sure that the main objective of the development team is met.

Team leader provides guidance, instruction, direction, and leadership to the development team to ensure that target is met.

The database developer writes and modifies the database needed for an IT solution.
The creative designer designs graphics and user interfaces needed for the IT solution.

The domain expert focuses on the domain of the application or IT solution.
The programmer writes the codes of an IT solution. He also decides the platform best for a project. The regulators are the industries or government that decide regulatory obligatory for the IT solution. The test management team test the operations and standard of a just completed project before installation and configuration.

These human factors are involved in the development of a system if it will be a success.