Client case studies
Sony
Sony adopts Xpertise’s new flexible learning method which ensures 96% first-time pass rate
Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and
information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures,
computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading
personal broadband entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of
approximately $70 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.
Greater demand for IT certification has increased the need for training. However, companies are reluctant for personnel to take time off from busy schedules to attend courses. For training provider Xpertise, this meant finding a way to deliver high-quality courses in the workplace. With a ‘time-lapse learning’ approach, which combines face-to-face and online methods, Xpertise provides the answer. Today, 96% of trainees pass the first time.
Quote
”Microsoft certification is widely regarded in the industry, and most employers expect you to have gained the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) credential. I need the knowledge to do my job, so it’s a win-win situation all round.” – Paul Essue, Management Information Systems Co-ordinator for Format Quality Assururance, Sony Playstation Division
Situation
Research shows that the better qualified the staff, the greater the likelihood of IT systems and projects running smoothly: a survey of more than 200 companies showed that as the percentage of certified staff increases, so the number of projects deployed on time and within budget increases. However, for a long time now, training has required staff to attend courses away from the workplace over a number of consecutive days. This is a major problem. While clients need to ensure staff receive training, the fact is they cannot afford to lose personnel for week-long periods?particularly where key IT support roles need to be maintained.
Bill Walker, Commercial Director at Xpertise, says: “People tend to want classroom-based training, but taking five days out of the office can be a problem. This staff absence can be difficult for large organisations to manage, and impossible for smaller companies. People have to remain on call, which makes it harder for them to concentrate on learning and gaining the new skills they need.”
Solution
Time-lapse learning combines self-study using books from Microsoft Learning?including Microsoft Press publications?with classroom-based teaching, and a dedicated online study portal for each group of students. “There’s almost too much content to cover using self-paced study in isolation,” says Walker. “You need to have an expert on hand to drive the learning process.” The course trainer is available to the students via the study portal, answering questions and providing support that is relevant to their experiences in the workplace.
The study portal also gives students a forum to share experiences and provide mutual peer support, plus an individual self-study assistant. The Web-based portal breaks up course sections into reading lists, recommending book sections to cover each topic in an accessible route in sufficient depth. Online tests, which ensure trainers can monitor course impact, give learners instant feedback to review progress and provide inspirational insights into personal development. They also determine the focus of the face-to-face one-day sessions, which take place every fortnight.
Benefits
The time-lapse learning approach has been a success for everyone. Client companies gain a competitive advantage through having certified staff, who are more likely to stay with the company. What’s more, this new approach delivers more timely, relevant, and cost-effective training?benefiting the company and staff members alike.