Latest News: Oct 1999 to Dec 1999

News & Views
Updated: February 04, 2008
(List of Other News & Views)

October - December 1999 Views

Why Train?

It is the challenge of every computer training provider to justify to people the reasons and benefits obtained by attending computer courses. The following points are summarised from an article published in Australian Personal Computer magazine in June 1997, for which kind permission has been granted for reproduction of its content.

According to most business analysts who take any interest in the utilisation of software at all, the 80:20 rule applies more or less universally. This indicates that some 80% of users of any given software package use a mere 20% of its functionality. Given the cost of any business package, this means that at least a few hundred dollars is being wasted in terms of the original cost price. There is no doubt that the right training can help increase the effectiveness of most software users.

As RMIT training manager Lee Wapling said, buying a brand-new package can sometimes have the opposite effect to the one intended. "In many cases, buying the latest package, such as Microsoft Office, can make users initially less productive rather than more so", he said.

Although most trainers are reluctant to pin a figure on the cost to any business of running with less-than-adequately-trained staff, the US-based Gartner Group estimates that over $20,000 can be spent on a support-related issues during the life of a machine. Even if this is not seen as direct expenditure, helpline expenses, downtime and lack of productivity will obviously increase the loss. Gartner also estimates that JITT (Just In Time Training) can be written off in six months, the same amount of time that Lee Wapling estimates a novice is underproductive for.

"Although it is true some people can train themselves on an application, you have to remember the less that person's basic ability is, the harder it is for them to learn. And those people will simply grapple with the new methods and waste their time in the process - not what you want on a Monday morning", says Rick Ryan, manager of training services, City Data.

In any case, spending a few hundred dollars on a software package, then skimping $150 or less on a day's training would make no sense to any competent business manager who wants to avoid up to six months' lowered productivity.

Things to Consider for 1999 and Beyond

As the year 2000 draws near, the following issues will become more a matter of action than just plain concern for businesses, corporations and government organisations:

Year 2000 Millennium Bug: Solving the ‘Y2K bug’ as it’s known, is more than just a matter of buying new computers and software for your business or organisation. There are much broader issues outside the realm of computer ownership and usage regarding compliance and making sure your business’s lines of supply are not jeopardised. We’ll be outlining several major issues in (very soon) future newsletters.

GST (Goods and Services Tax): July 1, 2000 is when the GST becomes active in Australia, and almost all businesses will be affected by the new tax. Having in place well beforehand an efficient and compliant method of recording the new tax, keeping in touch whether you are entitled to a refund or payment each quarter, and much closer monitoring of your cash flow are the other big issues for 1999 and beyond.

The Internet and Electronic Commerce: There is no doubt that the Internet is here to stay, and e-Commerce is gaining favour and popularity almost by the minute. The ‘latest research’ (I know this is a cliché, but it is there at http://www.roymorgan.com.au) indicates that 21% of all net surfers purchased goods online at least once during the last 12 months; 15% used it for banking services, 10% for booking travel and 9% used it for buying and selling shares. More about what’s involved in being on the Internet, having e-mail, and having a web site presence and what’s possible will also be looked at in coming issues.

Marketing: Business-to-enduser and business-to-business marketing is becoming more than just ‘maybe advertising in the paper’. Determining what clients need, determining how to service that need, and then managing the whole process requires efficient and uncomplicated systems to be put into place.

Here at CLASS Training we are putting in place systems that will allow us to better manage our client base and monitor more efficiently our activities.

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