Project Cycle Optimisation™
Principle 5: Skills Management - The right ones at the right time...
At any point in a development cycle skill shortages, knowledge gaps and overlaps can materialise that slow down or effect the project. A common mistake is to source and have delivered a set of standard training in the hope of addressing the problems. However, this usually results in a worse situation. Customised programmes are far more effective. They ensure that your people perform to their maximum potential, and in the shortest possible timeframe. Purpose built content and delivery can also be scheduled to cause minimum disruptions with an appreciation of the organisational demands and project constraints.
When considering skills management programmes remember:
- Every member of your team must be proficient in his/her speciality, but should also be capable of grasping a good understanding of the tasks and roles performed by other interacting team members.
- A customised training programme is a major key for success and should also be viewed as a performance accelerator.
- To maximise retention levels, training should be delivered “just in time” and allow for immediate use of the newly acquired skills on the real project.
- To maximise the return on investment, the training programme should deliver “just enough” content for the project to be delivered effectively and for delegates to acquire a realistic and broader picture of their specialised tasks and functions.
- Programmes of this sort should also make use of content from a delegate’s typical environment so they can link their new skills directly to their project role. This will increase both their confidence and knowledge retention levels.
- Staff should additionally be encouraged to experience other team members’ roles to create an appreciation of their own worth and value in the production chain.
- Ensure that all staff attending training are briefed and knowledgeable about what they will be covering and what the new skills will enable them to bring to the project.
- Ask for confirmation that the course leader has actual “field experience”. This guarantees that knowledge transferred is also complimented with experience sharing and real world applicability.
- Bear in mind that the actual cost of customised training is not the programme itself, but the risk of a non-productive team and/or a frozen project.
- Finally, appreciate that ultimately, your total return is directly connected to the relevance of the new knowledge & skills. This has a positive cost effect on current and future projects, as well as higher levels of staff contentment and retention.
