ISSUES IN SELECTING COMPUTER-BASED TRAINING
The type of CBT that is best for you depends on both your training needs
and training capacity.
Training Needs
Training needs can be divided into three categories: skill needs, instructional
needs, and trainee needs.
Training Capacity
Training capacity can be divided into four categories: technological
capacity, support capacity, space capacity, and budget. Because this section
only refers to a company's own training capacity, that is, conditions within
the company seeking training, most of the issues raised in this section
are not relevant to off-site classes. The space capacity issues are only
relevant for classes provided on company sites.
Instructions
- The charts below are divided into a training needs section and a training
capacity section.
- Use the charts below to determine which type of CBT will best meet
your needs. Click on an item in the left-most column for an explaination
of that item.
- First, place check marks in the "Your Firm" column for each
of the traits that matches your training situation in the "Section
I - Training Needs" section.
- Second, place check marks in the "Your Firm" column for each
of the traits that matches your training capacity in the "Section
II - Training Capacity" section.
- Third, insert your training budget in the "Budget" row.
- Finally, compare your firm's traits and budget to those CBT types shown
in the table, and select the type (or combination of types) that corresponds
most closely to your situation by following this procedure:
- Compare your budget to the estimated budget needed for each of the
CBT types. Rule out any that you cannot afford.
- Compare your check marks to blank spaces. These match ups show
CBT types that are inappropriate for your firm. Rule these out.
- Compare your blank spaces to
s in Section II.
These match ups show CBT types that are inappropriate for your firm. Rule
these out.
- Compare your check marks to s in Section I. These
match ups show CBT types that are most appropriate for your firm.
Of the CBT types remaining after steps 1, 2, and 3, these are your best
candidates. Match ups to CBT types with
are your next best candidates,
and match ups to those with 
are your final candidates.
- If steps 1, 2, and 3 leave you with no options, reconsider your analysis.
Can you change some of the conditions in your firm? Are you willing to
go with a CBT option that is not completely appropriate?
Section I Legend:
|
Type of CBT is best for this situation. |
|
Type of CBT is fine for this situation. |
|
Type of CBT can be used, but is not most appropriate. |
Blank |
Type of CBT is inappropriate for this situation. |
Section II Legend:
|
This situation is required for this type of CBT. |
|
This situation is fine for this type of CBT. |
Blank |
Type of CBT cannot be used in this situation. |
NR |
This situation is Not Relevant to this type of CBT. |
Section II - Training Capacity
|
Your Firm |
Timeliness |
Customizability |
Instructional Format |
Perfor-
mance Support System |
Training Instruc-
tion |
Off-the -Shelf |
Custom- izable |
Custom- ized |
Indepen-
dent Study |
On-site Class-
room |
Off-site Class-
room |
Capacity Needs:
Techno-
logical |
|
|
Trainee/
computer ratio is high. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trainee/
computer ratio is low. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NR |
| Hardware is sufficiently powerful. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NR |
| Operating system software is sufficiently
current. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NR |
Capacity Needs:
Support |
|
| Qualified instructional personnel are available. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NR |
| Qualified technical support personnel are
available. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NR |
| Qualified administrative support personnel
are available. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Group instructional equipment is available. |
|
NR |
|
|
|
|
NR |
|
NR |
Capacity Needs:
Space
(On-site classes
only) |
|
| Self-contained space for instruction exists. |
|
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
|
NR |
| Space is sufficiently large for trainees. |
|
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
|
NR |
| Doors guarantee security & privacy. |
|
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
|
NR |
| Windows guarantee security & privacy. |
|
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
|
NR |
| Lighting is appropriate. |
|
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
|
NR |
| Ventilation, heating, & air conditioning
are sufficient. |
|
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
|
NR |
Telephone outlets/net-
working is sufficient & well located. |
|
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
|
NR |
| Electrical outlets are sufficient & safe. |
|
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
|
NR |
| Budget |
|
NR |
NR |
$2,020 to $2,476 |
$3,300 to $6,456 |
$32,740 to $50,256 |
$2,020 to $50,000 |
$2,276 to $50,256 |
$1,752 to $21,152 |
The types of computer-based training listed here are not necessarily
mutually exclusive. In many cases selecting a computer-based training package
will be like ordering from a Chinese menu; you will be selecting one from
column A (timeliness), one from column B (customizability), and one from
column C (instructional format). In other words, you can, for example, purchase
training instruction, that is customized, and is taught in an on-site class.
Return to "Selecting and Implementing Computer-Based
Training" Home Page
Questions? Contact Brett Bixler.