Comparison of Available Configuration-Level Training Methods
| Features | Books & Manuals | Online Videos & DVDs | Online Virtual Training | Live Classroom Training |
| Detailed coverage of nearly all functionality | yes | no | limited | yes |
| Detailed manuals with step by step exercises | no | no | limited | yes |
| Real-world examples explaining SAP design | no | no | yes | yes |
| Students are fully engaged for 8 hours/day | no | no | doubtful | yes |
| Constant 2-way communication between students and instructor | no | no | limited | yes |
| Instructor can see if students are learning | no | no | no | yes |
| Interaction with other students | no | no | limited | yes |
| Case studies with business process flows | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| See the whole picture of how the module interacts with your entire SAP solution | no | no | yes | yes |
The rapid deployment of "cloud-based" and "virtual" learning might seem like the greatest thing since the whiteboard was invented. Before we all get carried away (from sniffing the whiteboard markers?), let's remember that the vast majority of corporate training still has good reasons to take place in classrooms with a live, person-to-person instructor. Sure, in times of tight budgets, other options may seem better, even seem to be a panacea. But, anecdotal evidence indicates that instructors in a virtual setting (and trainees themselves), have their doubts about the overall efficacy of "virtual" training. There seems to be no substitute for the interaction and the quality and quantity of learning that occurs in a live classroom.
That's not to say that alternatives to classroom training don't have their merits. Certain situations call out for alternatives:
- An SAP client with staff in locations throughout the world, may find the tradeoff between travel costs and quality of learning leads them to a decision to hold virtual training for a portion of their overall training requirements.
- An individual client employee, trying to solve a specific issue or problem can research solutions online. This isn't training--it's problem solving.
- Online, recorded training demos and exercises may be very helpful in reinforcing end user training.
Beware of vendors that just take all their content online, for 8 hour per day classes, and claim that this is equivalent to classroom training.
That said, Klee Associates has already presented some virtual training as a complement to our core classroom offerings. We are not going to just throw everything online and expect students to benefit from sitting in front of a screen for 8 hours a day. We carefully select the right client situations where we feel it makes sense for us to go virtual. When we do expand our virtual offerings further, it will be well thought-out--with as much student-teacher interaction as possible, a shorter amount of time online, and careful analysis of the results.
Andy Klee, President
Klee Associates, Inc.
Andy.Klee@ERPtips.com
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