Associate Developer Program

Associate Developer Program

TRAINING PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Business Problem:
The current capacity of the Global Learning Services team cannot possibly address the
amount of courseware development demand that is generated from the following:
A significant backlog of product training course requiring updating to incorporate recent
major releases
Updates to existing courses to incorporate all future product release
The creation of product training courses in support of new product introductions
Transition of selected legacy classroom-based training materials to Web Based Training
to meet cost reduction goals
Development of training content in support of internally developed engineering tools
Strategy:
To expand our content development capacity we will introduce a program that will
leverage the creative resources that reside within the large engineering community. The value
proposition for the engineering leadership is that we are providing a program that will enable the
propagation of critical knowledge from a few Subject Matter Experts to the growing segment of
new hire engineers.
Program Scope:
The program will include a holistic approach to learning beginning with the selection of
program participants and ending with their post-learning support. The key elements of the
program will include:
Marketing Collateral
Candidate Competency Profile
Candidate Selection Process
Candidate Training Program
Content Development Applications
Design Templates
LMS Publishing Process
Stakeholder Communication Plan
Target Audience:
The program will focus on field-based Sr. Project Engineers who have significant
experience in designing and building the companys technology solutions. The candidates will be
required to possess a specific set of competencies including communication and a desire to
mentor.

Associate Developer Program

Program Goals & Objectives:

Goals
Provide students with an
ability to identify content
topics

Provide students with the

ability to design a course

Provide students with an

ability to use content
development tools

Objectives
Sr. Application Engineers will breakdown their job into several
key areas of focus
Sr. Application Engineers will demonstrate a knowledge of the
criteria to select possible development topics
Sr. Application Engineers will identify a list of 4-6 brief
technical topics within each area of focus
Sr. Application Engineers will establish a prioritized list of
technical topics based upon the need of Jr. Engineers
Sr. Application Engineers will demonstrate a knowledge of the
fundamental pieces of content development for a course to be
developed within the course
Sr. Application Engineers will identify 3-5 learning objectives
for a course to be developed within the training program
Sr. Application Engineers will create an outline for a course to
be developed within the training program
Sr. Application Engineers will demonstrate an ability to select
the appropriate tool for the course
Sr. Application Engineers will create a brief course by
complying while adhering to the content development
guidelines
Sr. Application Engineers will demonstrate an ability to work
with the learning systems administrator by following the
documented publication processes

Introduction:
The Associate Developer Program is intended to be an enabler for the creation of learnergenerated content. A wealth of valuable knowledge regarding key job tasks currently reside in
the knowledge and experience of our Sr. Engineering staff. Transfer of this knowledge to junior
level engineers in a way that effective, timely and easy to access are keys to the programs
success.
Several key principles of modern adult learning theory will be utilized in the design of
the Associate Developer Program. Some of the elements will appear by exploiting the natural
learning characteristics of adults. For example, by selecting Sr. Project Engineers as the catalyst
for all of the programs content development activities, the learning will be heavily influenced by
the past experiences of the developers. This will imbed a sense credibility and relevancy to the
materials. Having field-based engineers create the content will also help to ensure that the
training takes a practical approach to accomplishing the learning objects. Lastly, by enabling the
creation of a self-paced eLearning library of modules, the learners will have the opportunity to
initiate and self-direct a significant portion of their development. For those elements that that do

Associate Developer Program

not come naturally, the Learning Dept. will provide guidance and support in having the
developers incorporate problem-based scenarios and team related activities.
Overall, the Associate Developer Program is intended to provide direct value to three
segments of the business. The Training Dept. will benefit from an instant expansion in capacity
to develop technical content. The Sr. Engineers who complete the program will provide the
Engineering community with a vehicle to help capture and transfer valuable institutional
knowledge that is leaving the company at an alarming rate due to the large ratio of retiring
engineers. They will also gain useful communication and mentoring skills that can be applied to
both client interactions as well as peer-level support activities. And the segment of young
engineers who require expansion of their technical skills and knowledge will benefit from an
accelerated development environment through the creation and delivery of targeted just in time
learning that focuses on the best practices used in delivering key job tasks.
NEEDS ANLYSIS
Questionnaire

Subject Matter Expert Questionnaire

Instructional
Designer:
Target
Learner:
SME:

Diane Lynch
Experienced Sr. Project Engineer who is interested in becoming an Associate Developer
Manager of Instructional Design

1.0
1.1

Sr. Project Engineer Profile

What is the role of the Sr. Project Engineer
in the organization?

1.2

What are the key responsibilities of the Sr.

Project Engineers role (list the general
tasks performed)?

1.3

What is the level of experience of the Sr.

Project Engineer related to the job and
industry?

Provides configuration and installation services

for the implementation of technology-based
solutions.
Support Account Managers in the
demonstration of product technologies
Review the Lead Project Managers solution
design

Develop and document a detailed

configuration based upon the clients unique
application
Configure the products to meet client solution
requirements
Conduct a Final Acceptance Test of the
solution to ensure proper operation
Work with client engineers to transfer
knowledge of the solution
This position has 10+ years of job and industry
experience. The engineer has worked on projects
in a variety of industries.

Associate Developer Program

1.4

What type of professional certification(s)

is possessed by the Sr. Project Engineer?

2.0
2.1

Sr. Project Engineer Prerequisites

What are the required competencies of Sr.
Project Engineers entering this learning
solution (prerequisite knowledge/skills)?
What amount of exposure to the topic
should the Sr. Project Engineer possess
entering the learning solution?
What is the desired level of proficiency for
this topic that a Sr. Project Engineer
should possess entering the learning
solution? (High / Med / Low/ None)
Required Knowledge and Skills
What are the key tasks that the Sr. Project
Engineer is expected to demonstrate upon
completion of this learning solution?

2.2

2.3

3.0
3.1

3.2

What are the specific skill gaps that

currently exist that this learning solution is
expected to address?

3.3

With respect to the above tasks, what are

the current challenges faced by the Sr.
Project Engineer and the typical mistakes
made when creating learning?

4.0
4.1

Existing Reference Materials

What is the list of available process
documentation related to this topic?

4.2

What is the list of available reference

materials related to this topic?
(for example, photos, videos, screenshots,
access to software)

4.3

What is the list of any available industry

specs related to this topic?
Technology
What software and/or hardware should be
used for the purpose of developing the
training material?

5.0
5.1

A Bachelors degree in either chemical or

electrical Engineering is required to fill the
position.

Ability to communicate effectively

Desire to mentor others

The candidate should be exposed to the

programs white paper.
The candidate should possess a high degree of
familiarization with the white paper.

Identify brief task-based topics that have

value to other engineers
Plan training content through the
development of learning objectives and an a
course outline
Identify appropriate delivery medium
Develop content & publish content
Communicate availability
Knowledge of basic adult learning theory
Ability to use a content development tool
Knowledge of instructional design
fundamentals
No consideration of learner needs
Going too deep on topics
Assume audience has same general level of
knowledge as instructor

The formal instructional design process

documentation and templates exist within the
learning department.
The majority of materials will come from the
recording of the Sr. Engineers activity with the
product application.
There is a corporate library that contains industry
photos and graphics.
Specifications exist within the learning
department related to industry standards.
A development application (e.g. Camtasia) will
be identified.

Associate Developer Program

Interview

Client Interview
Interviewer

Instructional Designer, Diane Lynch

Respondent

Regional Engineering Director

1.0
1.1

1. 2
1.3
1.4
2.0
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4

Target Audience
What is the expected impact of this learning
solution on the audience and the business: (for
example, project quality, project efficiency,
customer satisfaction explain)

Improved project financial margins due

to better prepared staff
Reduced replacement cost due to
improved employee satisfaction
What is the geographical spread of the Sr. Project Global
Engineer community?
What is the estimated number of program
6 participants per quarter during year 1
participants per quarter over the first year?
What is the total number of Sr. Project Engineers 60 total participants over the first 3 years
expected over the first 3 years?
Learning Solution Assumptions
Is there an expected duration or limitation on
Total delivery target is 16 hours
delivery time?
Is this learning solution a standalone solution or
Stand alone
part of an overall curriculum?
Will the content be localized into any
No localization
language(s)? If yes, list the languages.
Are there any non-standard branding or
No
templates to which this learning solution needs to
adhere?

Task analysis
Task Analysis Sheet
Focus of Analysis Associate Content Developer
Instructional Designer Diane Lynch
Subject Matter Expert Manager of Instructional Design
Duties

Tasks

Build a work plan of desired

learning topics

Build a list of total possible

topics

Prioritize the list based upon

need and capacity
Design a course

Develop the list of learning

objectives

Sub-Tasks
Solicit input from peers
Solicit input from management
Discuss with management
Review the provided job aid in
creating learning objectives

Associate Developer Program

Develop the course outline
Identify an appropriate delivery
medium

Review the provided job aid in

creating an outline
Review the provided Job Aid
outlining the appropriate
medium per solution

Estimate total delivery

duration
Develop content for the course

Record system demo &

narration
Work with Learning Dept. to
complete production
activities

Deploy the learning solution

Work with the Learning

Dept. to publish the content
to the appropriate system

Complete the systems

worksheet (course name,
description target audience, etc.)
Pilot the solution

Work with the Learning

Dept. to develop a
communication plan
The purpose of the Associate Developer Program is to leverage the knowledge and skills
of the Sr. Engineering community in creating a virtual group of content developers. This
audience was chosen for their extensive knowledge and experience of the companys product
technology and it application in various client environments. This is the most valued information
in the company as it directly impacts several key business indicators including revenue, margins,
client satisfaction and employee satisfaction. The Associate Developer Program looks to take a
group of Sr. Engineers with the right fundamental skills and provide them with the training and
support they would need to enable them to create nuggets of eLearning that demonstrate key job
tasks.
In determining the current skills gap of the Engineers and the required competencies of
the program three key tools were utilized to collect the required data. A Questionnaire was
designed to help facilitate a discussion with a Subject Matter Expert (Manager of Instructional
Design) in order to identify the required skill set of the proposed training program. The analysis
of the responses pointed to a strategy of taking the current Instructional Design Framework
utilized by the profession training organization and create a lite version, leveraging basic
concepts and a few essential tools and templates.
The second tool that was employed was an Interview Sheet that was utilized to query a
Regional Engineering Director for an in depth assessment of the typical competencies of the
current pool of candidates likely to apply to the program. The assessment revealed a profile that
is typical for an engineering position, heavily weighted in technical knowledge with very little
experience in the learning discipline. This mandates that we look for candidates with good
communication skills and a desire and talent for coaching others and that we focus our training

Associate Developer Program

objective in developing their knowledge and skill on the learning acumen.

The final tool utilized in painting a picture of the required skills delivered by the program
is the Task Analysis Sheet. We went back to the Manager of Instructional Design to build a
multi-tiered list reflecting the assumed duties of an Associate Developer and the associated tasks
of each. The exercise revealed a holistic approach that includes tasks related to all phases of
content development including planning, design, development and deployment. It also
highlighted the required on-going support activities provided by the Learning Dept.

Associate Developer Program

BUDGET

Associate Developer Program

STAFFING PLAN
Position

Required Qualifications

Project Proficient in Project Management tools

Manager
& techniques
Ability to drive a team of non-direct
reports to meet defined goals
Interpersonal and communication skills
Strong analytical, problem-solving,
negotiation and organizational skills
Understanding of Learning delivery
methods
Training Technologies
Understanding of Instructional Design
techniques
Instructi Excellent technical writing, structured
onal
writing techniques, and demonstrable
Designe
documentation skills
r
Knowledgeable in current adult learning
theory
Well-versed in instructional design
methodologies
Proficient with use of Microsoft Office
and Adobe authoring tools and
eLearning software applications and
testing tools
Ability to work independently and as a
member of a cross-functional team
Strong interpersonal and
communication skills
Technic Superior English writing skills and
al Editor
knowledge of technical writing
principles
Proven experience in revising copy
without impacting accuracy or
modifying original intent and focus
Well versed in and respectful of
common editorial styles
Proficient in the use of Microsoft
Office tools and eLearning software
applications and testing tools
Strong interpersonal and
communication skills
Ability to work effectively with
Instructional Designers of varying
skill levels
Ability to provide constructive feedback
Strong organizational skills

Required
Resources
(FTE)

Time
Requirement
(HRs)

Available
Resources
(FTE)

.25

80

3.0

Additional
Resources
Needed
(FTE)
0.0

1.0

140

.50

.50

The overall work plan will

be reviewed to determine
which scheduled project
can be moved in order to
free up a resource to
accommodate the need of
this project.

.25

40

.75

1.0

A resource will be
borrowed from the Tech
Pubs group, which is
accountable to create
product manuals.

Strategy to Fill Resource

Gap
Required resources are
available for this project.
No addition work is
required.

Associate Developer Program

Position

Required Qualifications

System Analytical, troubleshooting and problem

Admin
solving skills
Strong technical skills including
proficiency in Microsoft Office,
Outlook and SharePoint
Experience working with an LMS
system and knowledge of SCORM
standards a plus
Ability to work effectively in a
dispersed team
Self-motivated, detail-oriented and
organized
Ability to work independently and
efficiently to meet deadlines
Customer service and team-oriented
mind set
Strong interpersonal and
communication skills
Background in curriculum development
Online A Bachelor of Science degree in
Facilitat
Engineering
or
Effective presentation skills
Strong interpersonal and
communication skills
Ability to convey complex concepts in a
simplified manner
Effective listening skills
One to two years of experience in
instruction or formalized education
process.
Demonstrated time management and
detail-oriented skills
Computer based skills
A Bachelor of Science degree in
Engineering
Online Proficient in virtual classroom
Moderat
technologies
or
Effective listening skills
Analytical, troubleshooting and problem
solving skills
Strong technical skills including
proficiency in Microsoft Office
Experience working with an LMS
system
Ability to work effectively in a
dispersed team
Self-motivated, detail-oriented and
organized
Ability to work independently and
efficiently to meet deadlines
Customer service and team-oriented
mind set
Strong interpersonal and
communication skills
Background in training delivery

Required
Resources
(FTE)

Time
Requirement
(HRs)

Available
Resources
(FTE)

.25

20

.50

Additional
Resources
Needed
(FTE)
0.0

.75

320

1.25

0.0

Required resources are

available for this project.
No addition work is
required.

.25

120

.50

0.0

Required resources are

available for this project.
No addition work is
required.

Strategy to Fill Resource

Gap
Required resources are
available for this project.
No addition work is
required.

Staff performance evaluation

To ensure all of the team members are driving program performance in a synchronized

Associate Developer Program

manner a common set of performance measures will be established for everyone. Key
Performance Indicators (KPIs) will include:
1. On-time delivery of the course content
2. On-time delivery of the delivery infrastructure (configuration & testing of the systems)
3. On-time delivery of the supporting marketing collateral
4. Meet or exceed the target number of classes delivered
5. Meet or exceed the target number of participants
6. Acquire Top 2 box scores for overall rating for Level 1 & 3 Evaluations
STAKEHOLDERS & GOALS

Associate Developer Program

Stakeholder
VP of L&D

Stakeholder Goals
The program contributes to the
clients perception of department
value

The program is a cost effective

solution

Human Resources
Business Partner

The program is viewed as an

opportunity to contribute to
employee development plans

The program contributes to

employee retention

Participants
Managers

The program provides a significant

return on the requested investment
in time

The program helps to improve the

preparedness of the entire
engineering function

Program Participants

The program provides an

opportunity to demonstrate acquired

skills and knowledge to peers

The program provides an

Strategy to Build Suppo

Build program collateral for the participant
communicates the potential value of the pro
perspective (WIIFM)
Provide participant management with key p
(number of program graduates, number of m
number of engineers accessing the modules
Provide participant management with the fe
programs Level 3 evaluations
Collect feedback from participant managem
support of the program
Build a presentation for the VP of L&D tha
above
Reduce the actual development time by leve
the training departments formal instruction
Schedule classes at various times utilizing v
technology to provide remote training after
Calculate the development cost per delivery
Build a presentation for the VP of L&D tha
above
Include the list of competencies unique to th
database of engineering skills and competen
Provide graduates with a certificate of comp
Associate Developer
Provide participant management with key p
(number of program graduates, number of m
number of engineers accessing the modules
Provide participant management with the fe
programs Level 3 evaluations
Provide participant management with key p
(number of program graduates, number of m
number of engineers accessing the modules
Provide participant management with the fe
programs Level 3 evaluations
Provide participant management with key p
(number of program graduates, number of m
number of engineers accessing the modules
Provide participant management with the fe
programs Level 3 evaluations
Create participant-centric marketing collate
the highlights of the program emphasizing t
exposure to the engineering community
Create a special acknowledgement for the
Module for each participant
Provide participants with key program statis

Associate Developer Program

Associate Developer Program

COMMUNICATION PLAN (700 Words)

Logo & Slogan

Value Proposition
The Associate Developer Program can be the engine that propagates the knowledge of
your Subject Matter Experts to your junior staff.
Program Benefits

Provides an effective vehicle for transferring key institutional knowledge within the company

Increases the opportunities for employee development

Improves employee satisfaction by better preparing them for success

Reduces the cost of training development and delivery

Fact Sheet
Target Audience:
The ideal candidates possess considerable experience in successfully implementing
product solutions in a myriad of client applications combines with a desire to share their
knowledge.
Eligibility

Associate Developer Program

Regional and EEC project engineers are eligible to register for GLS SPL courses.
Management approval is required and obtained through an automatically generated email
notification.
Competency Development:
Participants in the program will benefit from formal training and SME support.
Learning Type
Formal Training

What the participants will learn

Getting organized:
Identifying an area of need
Selecting a topic

How the training

will be delivered
Virtual Classroom
& Hands-On
Exercises

Amount of
time required
10 Hours

Content review &

feedback

As needed

Creating a design:
Establishing 3-5 goals
Creating an outline
Producing materials:
Using the tools to create the content
Making it available to others
Informal
Training

Reinforcement of key concepts

Financials
100% of all training development and delivery will be the responsibility of the training
department. The cost of the participants time will be covered by their department.
Availability
Course registration is managed through the corporate learning management system.
Promotional Channels
To address the variety of key stakeholders that need to be targeted program messaging a
multi-level promotional strategy is required. Each element must be designed to resonate with the
unique perspective of each group.
Channel: Company Quarterly Ops Review
Target Audience: Sr. Leadership Executive Committee
Goal: Raise the visibility of the value being provided by the learning department
Channel: Monthly Delivery Director Call
Target Audience: Client Leadership peers

Associate Developer Program

Goal: Gain leadership support of the target participant group

Channel: Direct email with Program Announcement Brochure
Target Audience: Engineering Dept. Managers
Goal: Generate participation in the program
Channel: Company Intranet Site
Target Audience: All company employees
Goal: Generate exposure of the Program and Learning Dept. to all non-client groups
Materials
Material: Presentation Slide
Purpose: Provides our functional VP with a supporting tool to deliver our messaging to the
companys Sr. Leadership
Rationale: Ensures key messaging is delivered by a leader who is not close to the program
details. It also maintains consistent verbiage throughout the communication suite.
Implementation: Develop a single MS Power Point summary slide that communicates program
highlights and the expected impact to the companys key performance measures.
Material: Presentation Deck
Purpose: Provides our department lead with a vehicle to educate various leadership teams on the
programs key elements, roles and responsibilities and value to the audience.
Rationale: Ensures all of the key messaging is delivered each time a presentation is given. It also
maintains consistent verbiage throughout the communication suite.
Implementation: Develop a MS Power Point slide deck that communicates program details and
the value proposition to the audience.
Material Program Announcement Brochure
Purpose: Provides our department with a vehicle to recruit participants to the program.
Rationale: Provides sufficient information and motivation for engineering managers to support
the investment in time for select staff members. Also provides potential candidates with a
characterization of the project that will inspire them to apply to the program.
Implementation: Develop a PDF glossy that communicates program details, value, as well as
roles and responsibilities.
Material Company Intranet Site
Purpose: Provides our department with a vehicle to promote our capabilities.
Rationale: Provides sufficient information and motivation for engineering managers to support
the investment in time for select staff members.
Implementation: Develop a web site utilizing HTML programming that communicates program
details and the value proposition to the audience.

Associate Developer Program

PROGRAM EVALUATION
Roles & Responsibilities
Role

Course Program Manager

LMS System Administrator

Course Designer

Course Facilitator

Course Program Manager

Program Evaluation Responsibilities

Ensure the complete evaluation program is executed as planned
Work with participants manager to drive L3 evaluation completion
Work with participants manager to assess L4 results
Analyze program data to assess goal attainment
Analyze program data to identify opportunities for improvement
Configure the LMS to auto trigger L1 and L3 assessments
Develop LMS reports to reflect the evaluation results
Design of the performance-based program evaluation
Participate in the assessment of the L2 final project submittal
Participate in the assessment of the final project submittal
Participate in the assessment of the final project submittal

Program Evaluation Design

Key Program Indicators & Specific Metrics
L1 Evaluation: Reaction (Survey Monkey):
- Program objectives
- Course materials
- Content relevance
- Facilitator knowledge
- Facilitator delivery
- Course evaluation
- Environment (Virtual Classroom)
L2 Evaluation: Reaction: (Observation & Review)
- Knowledge transfer
- Skills development
L3 Evaluation: Behavior (Survey Monkey)
- Opportunity to apply knowledge & skills
- Ability to apply knowledge & skills
- Impact on required tasks
Level 4 Evaluation: Results (Interview)
- Tangible business results (cost, revenue, CSAT)
Program-Level Evaluation: Performance (presentation)

Associate Developer Program

Each participant will be required to present to a committee of Subject Matter Experts in

including the programs Program Manager, Designer and Facilitator. Included in the presentation
will be a fully formed course to demonstrate development and production skills. The student will
deliver a presentation demonstrating evidence of their ability to address all of the key courseware
development competencies including need analysis, strategy development, design, development
and deployment. Finally, they will demonstrate key business skills such as planning,
collaboration and communication.