Client prospects for Microsoft technical and desktop training fall into three general categories:
- Corporate Project – Corporate sponsor trying to complete a large and specific mission-critical project
- Corporate Skills Assessment – Corporate sponsor performing annual skills assessments and identifying individual employee needs
- Certification: Corporate or Individual – Corporate sponsor or individual seeking professional upgrade through Microsoft Certification
Each of these client categories offers sales opportunities for MODL.
MODL Client #1 – Corporate Project
In MODL scenario #1, your corporate client is trying to complete a mission-critical IT project involving advanced Microsoft technologies. The project most likely includes the upgrade of existing technology and requires training as follows:
- Upgrade or “What’s-new training” for the team that is performing the technology upgrade
- Full technical training (specified by the client) for new team members with less experience
- Prescriptive training for help desk and other support functions
- End-user training
- Some form of ongoing reference guide that is related to the training material
- Possible on-site MCT mentoring and coaching or project management consulting and support
This Client scenario is the least well served by current Microsoft Training offerings, release schedules, and certification emphasis. MODL is an ideal solution for mission-critical project customers. Position MODL here as an on-site option to reach many employees at their desks in preparation for the project with prescriptive and flexible module training that offers ongoing reference back to the materials online.
MODL Client #2 – Corporate Skills Assessment
- This process is identified as important but not mission-critical and as soon as it is identified, it will occur over a time frame of one year or more.
- The general skills upgrade process is frequently requested to be customized for the client to meet the restrictive “training time” and budget.
- These individuals frequently own multiple technologies and require bridge training that is related to the differences, similarities, and integration of these technologies.
Historically, traditional MOC has served this category well, but recent training time restrictions and the responsibility of these individuals who own multiple technologies is reducing the value of traditional MOC. Again, MODL can be an ideal solution for these customers. Position MODL here as a flexible, modular training opportunity that meets their restrictions for employee time and budget.
MODL Client #3 – Certification: Corporate or Individual
- Corporate clients continue to select individuals with career potential and support their Microsoft Certification process.
- The corporate sponsor frequently assigns constraints on the individual employee who requires that most of the training be completed outside of ordinary work hours and is spread over time to manage budgets.
This category of students will continue to be well served by the concept of traditional MOC with some limitations. Current re-engineering of certifications combined with the overload of similar and overlapping MOC titles makes it very difficult to identify the best path and time frame for success. Even this category of student has time and budget restrictions which must be addressed. In this market, MODL can also be a valuable solution. The flexible delivery options, when planned accordingly with instructor resources, can meet the timing expectations of the client.
