Training Needs Analysis

Typically the client will execute this important first step towards creating a training programme. The client may, however, may need technical help or require a fresh external view. In either event, FSMD will identify the business imperative for the trainining, assess the existing skills of the staff, and identify the training gap.

Programme Design

As well as defining the knowledge and skills content, programme design must also decide on media mix, timing, numbers and location to achieve an appropriate balance of cost, educational effectiveness and logistics.

Material Development

To make sure that material is relevant and credible it must incorporate recognisable client problems, practices and procedures.FSMD are experts at developing in-house case studies and projects, as required.

Distance Learning

Media other than face-to-face can sometimes help achieve the balance between educational effectiveness and logistic constraints. We routinely consider alternative media when designing a programme.

Text is the alternative most commonly chosen, but other media such as computer-based training or video are increasingly being considered.

Programme Management

Every client has an FSMD relationship manager responsible for managing each client event and supported by a course administrator. Sometimes programmes are so large and complex that additional consultant and administrator resource has to be earmarked for project management, particularly if the client is short of specialist resource in this area.

Administration & Logistics

FSMD provides all of the customised stationery and teaching material and stationery for courses as a matter or routine. If the client has a limited training infrastructure we can arrange the venue, equipment and accommodation as well as producing and distributing joining instructions and administering the event itself, together with any post-event activities such as evaluation and de-briefing.

Face-to-Face Delivery

We can fully resource programmes in our core topic areas using exclusively full-time FSMD trainers. This ensures efficient dove-tailing of inputs on multi-topic courses and it ensures client relationship continuity. Part-time FSMD associates can be used selectively to cover specialist technical topics.

Participant Evaluation

FSMD evaluates its own courses as a matter of routine and discusses the results with clients. In addition clients may require feedback on course participants. This introduces an additional element into the relationship between trainer, course member and client sponsor, which needs to be carefully and professionally managed. The key, in our experience, is to decide in advance the “rules of engagement” and then to make sure that everyone understands them.