Plan Your Work - Building a Training Plan for your Kronos Implementation - Part I

The last few posts have discussed the analysis required to develop a good training plan for your Kronos Workforce Central implementation. Once all of analysis has been completed, it is time to begin building a training plan and put it to paper. This plan will become the sacred text of your training program, so it is important to get it right. In this installment, we will get the final pieces of the puzzle, then begin putting it all together. In the next installment, we will finish building the training plan document. 

There are three keys to a good training plan; simplicity, attention to detail and consideration for different viewpoints. Simplicity is obvious. You need everyone involved to understand your training plan for the Workforce Central implementation. Complex ideas need to be expressed simply. Use timelines, tables, and flowcharts where necessary. (but make sure they are absolutely necessary!)Keep the language straightforward, don't use a term from your "word-of-the-day" calendar when a more commonly known term will do. The use of acronyms and abbreviations are also strongly suggested; but remember to clearly explain the appropriate acronym or abbreviation at the start of your plan. 

There will be a lot of detailed information in the training plan. Dates, locations, events, attendees and task information among other information will all be incorporated. Cross your "i's" and dot your "t's"; it is vital to get it all right. 

Consider the viewpoints of your different readers. Not all of the people reading your training plan will be attracted to the same data.

Your IT Project Manager will be focused on the use of the corporate network, computer resources and setup time for the training rooms. An HR Director wants an overview of then entire project, and who will manage the different parts of it. The Nursing Manager needs to make sure that all of the shifts are covered while some of his nurses are being trained.

To make this document more useful to these readers, focus on their need. Incorporate simple and small sections for these areas. For example, it is a good idea to include a "technology requirements" section that will detail the specific technological needs, INCLUDING SUPPORT PERSONNEL. Include a flowchart that shows the number of employees in training by day during the entire training roll out. Provide an executive summary at the start of the document. Provide the "skeleton" plans, without too much detail. That can come later.  It is very possible that information will be provided in multiple areas on the same plan. Don't let that bother you; after all, you have a copy AND paste feature in your word processing program! Remember, your readers will be drawn to areas that concern them. Take advantage of the attention you have. 

So far we have scratched the surface of your training plan by covering some overriding goals for the training plan document on your Workforce implementation. In the next installment more time will be spent on what should be included into the document to ensure that your training plan is as robust as possible.