how much is enough ?

I am currently blogging about my Windows 7 Deployment experience. If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

When deploying any new application or process in the business the challenge is to get the right training mix for the different level of skills within a business. Over do it and staff will under commit due to the time commitment, under do it and you will impact their productivity. There can be a number of inputs into establishing what you can expect.

1.       The first is easy, technology skills are omnipresent in most organizations, and probably have been for the past 10 years. So if you have a business that is growing then you will be hiring these skills whether part of the prerequisites for a position or not. But the volume and quality of the skill can vary quite a lot.

2.       Taking a close look at your organizations age demographic will aid in establishing where your organization sits as well. We run staff surveys each year as a way of establishing the satisfaction level of our employee’s one of the questions is a simple age grouping question. (payroll can of course provide this). 

3.    The third for us was to survey the employees in order for them to self access their own skills. The intent is to keep it short and simple in order to get the best result. I considered making the response mandatory prior to a user being upgraded but felt that was unnecessary, as the people that need help will respond, those that don’t wont. Don’t over complicate it. Questions are below.

I am confident with my knowledge of the operating system on my personal computer at work and home? 

a.        Yes

b.        No

What Operating Systems do you use at work and at home? 

c.        Windows XP

d.        Windows Vista

e.        Windows 7 Beta or Release Candidate

Do you know how to change your screen resolution? 

f.         Yes

g.        No

h.        Not sure

Do you know how to successfully add a network printer? 

i.         Yes

j.         No

k.        Not sure

Where do you find the System Properties of your PC? Do you: 

l.         Right-click on the desktop > Properties

m.      Right-click on the network places icon > Properties

n.        Right-click on the start button > Properties

o.        Right-click on My computer > Properties

p.        Not sure

Based on my understanding of Windows 7, I will require: 

q.        No Training, I’ll be just peachy thanks

r.         Perhaps alittle, just to get me started

s.         I may need an hour of your time to show me the ins and outs

So armed with this information formulate a plan …. Give me a few days to get the plan sorted … with an expert of course

clint … clint … clint … where are you when i need you

Kim