Why 1:
For my design project in OLT 578, I will be redesigning a workshop training on leasing a student housing property. This is a workshop that I utilize with administrative and student paraprofessional staff. It focuses on leasing and marketing our property to incoming students, transferring, and returning students. Generally, the staff have a difficult time staying engaged during this training. They have a tough time absorbing the information and applying it.
Why 2:
I believe that engagement and information retention is difficult because of the format and length of the training. It is delivered first over the course of a full day workshop. Then there are several follow-ups over the course of the few weeks.
Why 3:
The reason for this format is due to the nature of the student staff position They are not able to have this training all at once in a more intensive format due to their student class schedule. During the student's main training prior to the semester, they have many other topics to cover and not enough time to devote to leasing/marketing skills.
Why 4:
The other reason for this format is due to the primary trainers have many other projects to complete prior to beginning of the semester or being located at the corporate office and not at the main property. The lead trainer has to travel over the course of a month or 2 to many different properties to deliver this training and it must be specific to each property's needs.
Why 5:
Another reason for lack of engagement is due the timing. This workshop is delivered typically in the middle of the semester right before the property begins leasing for the next year. However, there are not many practice opportunities (Facetime, phone, or in-person tours) when this training is delivered. The practice opportunities do not come about until about a month or 2 after the training is delivered.
Q: Did this technique reveal any new insights for your project? Has it changed the scope, purpose, or focus of the project? Explain how or why.
In completing the 5 Whys process for this project, I have identified that one of the reasons why this training is not as effective as it could be is due to the timing. The training is delivered between 1 to 2 months prior to when the skills can be fully utilized. The learners are not truly able to practice the skillsets until much later after they have forgotten the information. They have also been focusing not only on school, but on several other work projects (programs, residence life projects, etc...) which make this information easy to forget. I believe the scope of my project will now need to include addressing not only the delivery methods, but the timing of the main training, along with follow-up.
One of the videos I watched to learn more about this process can be found below by the Expert Program Management channel.
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