I’d like subject you, for only a moment, to an analogy. An analogy linking a similarity between sports and business.

If you’re thinking that a sports analogy is uncreative, you may be right, but here goes ...

See, I volunteered to coach my son’s team a few years back and am now somewhat stuck in the system. They sort of list you as a coach, the players sign up for your team again, and before you know it, you’re the coach. So, every season, I try to improve myself by providing nuggets of coaching gold. I stumbled across the following contribution about maneuvering around a defender. It comes from a YouTube soccer coach guru by the name of Mike Hefron:

“In any beat the man move, in order for it to work effectively you’ve got to sell the move … There are three components to a beat the man move:

1. Change of Speed
2. Change of Direction
3. Element of Surprise"

So, there’s the analogy. Consider the execution of a “next generation” software product launch to be comparable to maneuvering a ball past an opponent. Whether the opponent is a competitor, time itself, or some other condition of concern, each new launch presents challenges.

Our hypothesis is as follows:
If you include a learning strategy in your “Next Generation” initiative, you will turn the corner with beneficial gains.

The Venza Group’s proposition is simple, when organizations strategically position training and customer-service as the business opportunity that it is, company goals will be achieved with efficiency, efficacy, and advancement.

Let's look at how ...

Strategically incorporating technology-based training and communications solutions can streamline your organization.

Well-architected web-based training modules, for example, can supplant on-site training calls, reducing the days and nights members of your team need to be at customer locations.

Electronic job-aids and learning management portals can provide just-in-time information for users. That way, your customer-service call center staff aren’t spending their hours giving tutorials, but rather, they are spending their time having revenue generating, up-sell conversations.

Also, the implementation of communications mechanisms can enhance the effectiveness of your organization. For example, measuring learning performance in a training simulation of an application provides valuable insight into the usability of that very system.

Also, offering multi-language versions of the training initiatives assures the success of your system use internationally.

I’d like for us to stop here for a moment and take note. Optimization efforts, such as we’ve discussed in the previous slides, are worthwhile. I mean, who doesn’t like the idea of cutting cost?

But can cost-cutting promise growth?

There is a Systems Theory term that addresses that question: sub-optimization. Sub-optimization occurs when different sub-units each attempt to reach a solution that is optimal for that unit, but that may not be optimum for the organization as a whole.

For example, the quality control department of a light bulb factory may want to introduce a program that will guarantee the perfection of every light bulb produced. However, the higher cost and the resulting high price would lead to disaster for the overall company in the form of lower sales. Another example might be the reduction of on-site installations at client locations to save on travel costs only to be overloaded with customer service calls and, heaven forbid, disenchanted users.

Thinking of training services as initiatives that are designed to cut costs, alone, may help your organization optimize. However, I’d like you to consider training and communications initiatives to be the innovative enhancements that help your company win.

This is where the kiddie-soccer analogy comes in handy. If you recall, there are three components to selling your move:

1. Change of Speed
2. Change of Direction
3. Element of Surprise

Training and Communications initiatives provide an opportunity for advancement, for that element of surprise. Managing organizational change, whether within your company or with your customers, brings your users up-to-speed in a systematic fashion. Secondly, adopting a variety of training deployment methods accounts for your variety of system users, spanning generations, communicating with them on a variety of devices. And thirdly, by recognizing the value that your customers place on the training of their people, you can create new streams of revenue.

In the past few months, the Venza Group has experienced explosive growth, becoming a market leader within the technology-based training space.  Much of this growth has come by way of referrals from satisfied clients and industry contacts.  In recognition, the 5-for-5 Program has been established to acknowledge and reward such referrals going forward.

Simply stated, for every $5,000 of incremental Venza Group business that results from a referral, the referring party will receive 5 minutes of Just-in-Time Training (a.k.a. eGuides) from the Venza Group - developed to their custom specifications - at no cost.

To refer a colleague, just complete the form available at http://www.venzagroup.com/5-for-5 .  Should the colleague subsequently take advantage of any of the products or services offered by the Venza Group, a member of our team will contact you.  Program terms and conditions are specified on the website.

Gap Training:

A training gap exists when there is a difference between present job skills and the skills needed, now and/or in the future. The execution of gap training is necessary for companies to remain competitive in the marketplace, today more than ever.

Extraordinary training gap materials are an astute blend of attractiveness, sound instructional design, developmental ease, and operational agility. Effective production of instructional materials that bridge training gaps requires an ingenious methodology, such as that which is revealed in the Venza Group’s “Let Your Reference Be Your eGuide” workshop.

Training professionals tasked with designing, developing, and/or deploying gap training materials will experience the following from the “Let Your Reference Be Your eGuide” workshop.

• Clear Instructional Approach for eGuide Design
• Simple Technology for eGuide Development
• Varied Operational Formats for eGuide Deployment

The lyrics “Life is a Song, Let’s Sing it Together” were penned by Joe Young and charted at #1 by Ruth Etting, America’s Sweetheart of Song, in 1935. That year, the world continued its struggle through the Great Depression, Babe Ruth played his final game, and FDR signed the Social Security Act into law. As we transition from 2008, confronted by news flashes that read “financial crisis”, the song that many of us may be singing may sound distinctively like the blues. That’s completely understandable.

Surviving 2008 was difficult for many. The uncertainty of 2009 has many of us on pins and needles. For this reason, we are sending compilation CDs of new music to our clients and partners because we believe that a batch of new tunes to hum along to just might serve as a welcome change. With a little luck, we all may even find a little, much needed inspiration within the melodies.

The twelve tracks found on Crossover ’09: Songs in Quarter Time send messages of rescue (“Rescue Me”), the coming spring (“Your Spring Will Come Along”), and the edge of the dawn (“Sweet the Open Road”) as well as the other communiqués that are steeped in the optimistic possibilities that we believe the future holds.

The music found on the CD was compiled for the Venza Group by Music for Charities (www.DownloadUplift.com). An organization driven by the pursuit of charitable fundraising through the promotion of independent music, Music for Charities is the community development partner of the Venza Group. The compilation CD is only the most recent collaboration between Music for Charities and the Venza Group.

So, whatever challenges we’re are facing, and whatever song we may be singing, the Venza Group is committed to providing guidance in 2009 through compassion, innovation and quality. Together, we can make 2009 sing. Those interested in getting a copy of the Crossover ’09: Songs in Quarter are encouraged to reach out to us - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it