Georgia Gwinnett College
Technology & Training Management Information Systems
Dawn Clayton 10/6/2011
Introduction: In business today, training is one of the most expensive endeavors that a company will face. According to Eric Koester of My High Tech Start-Up and the MSN Business article, The Cost of Hiring a New Employee, July 28, 2011, it takes anywhere from 1.5 to 3 percent of any salary to cover the monetary aspects of orienting the new hire to that company’s corporate structure and policies. It also takes at least five months for the production level of the employee to reach an acceptable return level. Traditional avenues of training are printed documents, “canned” purchased videos, traveling to off-site locations, and hands-on training, among others. While hands-on training is a highly effective method, companies that are ISO certified must be able to prove that each employee received specifically stated instructions. This is an area where the use of technology can assist in reducing the costs associated with training. This is the utilization of electronic delivery of training materials, i.e. thin client, e-reader, or even one of the “One Laptop per Child” computers (looked indestructible in the video clip imbedded in Telecom Part 1). Technology Definition: Thin clients, tablets, e-readers, and the “One Laptop per Child” computers are small, relatively inexpensive electronic devices that can be installed within a business with restricted access. (Log in controls, internet blockages, updating privileges, etc.) The designs of the digital system can be customized to fit the needs of any unique situation while delivering this critical training in an eco-friendly, reusable format. The system can also automatically document who accessed a given document and when they were reviewed to provide proof of training compliance, whereas without it documentation must be completed manually. Business Usage: The sole purpose of these different digital reading hardware appliances would be to supply up-to-date and reliable information for all employees (plus customers, auditors, etc.) to access, whenever the need arises, without undo searching for the location it is stored in. Again, these are the foundational requirements that are driven by the International Standardization of Operations Guidelines—a global endeavor to accredit businesses whom are displaying a high level of customer strategic awareness. Technology Business Impact: Businesses that are currently using the compiling method of bounded printed material would see a direct impact in the amount of paper the firm needed to purchase. (ISO requires relative documents and work instructions to be quickly retrieved and utilized during operations.) There is also a requirement that drives periodic systematic reviews for any type of revisions with the goal of matching the documentation with the work performed. Based off of my previous work experience in this area, the average department book can have 100-500 pages assembled with the possibility of at least 10 locales in one plant. Between the initial implementation, the necessary updates, and the supplies needed to complete this task in the “traditional” manner, the company could spend a minimum of the following in one location:
Product Purchase Price $32.00 (sale) – 100.00 Paper (YR dependant) 1-3 per year Mid/Upper Range $850.00 Printer 1 of each per year $140.00 – 270.00 Ink—Blk, Color X 3 $3, 13, or 30.00 Binders (yr dependent) 10 various sizes First Year Totals Following Years X 5 $1100.00 – 1305.00 Totals Five Year Investment (standard paper documentation) 10 per plant $400.00 – 480.00 Electronic device Savings Estimate
Total $96.00 – 300.00 $850.00 $950.00 $164.00 $2060.00 – 2264.00 $5500.00 – 6525.00 $7560.00 - 8789.00 $4000.00 – 4800.00 $3560.00 – 3989.00
Conclusion: The streamlining of the printed documents into an electronic medium would have a beneficial effect on the accessibility of the training documentation. Thus, creating an environment in which all personnel would be assured that the information they should access is as current as possible (frequent updates/immediate access to secured document database), permits the employees to answer any auditing queries with confidence. This is in addition to the monetary figures stated in the graph above. Chosen correctly, these instruments (especially the One Laptop computer with an even lower purchase price than stated above) would be able to withstand poor/less than ideal treatment, whereas paper bindings typically do not. These totals are computed at a six year life-span, but depending on the products purchased; this could extend beyond that time frame—creating opportunities to re-invest in another area of the operation that is in need of funding. Works Cited http://arabia.msn.com/Business/Guides/investopedia/2011/july/newemployee.aspx http://www.staples.com