We develop and deliver two types of training:

• Training for developers - efficiency in a collaborative, networked environment
• Training delivered at launch - product-centric knowledge and skills

Will training be a critical component for the success of your next new product or service development effort? Can an investment in training drive competitive advantage? The business drivers for training at product or service launch may include:

• Increasing revenues (For example, how will revenues be impacted when your sales staff is equipped with increased product knowledge and a refined communication strategy?)
• Reducing cost (For example, can improved training methods reduce the time required for training by 30 percent?)
• Improving efficiency (For example, how will efficiency be impacted when your employees focus on their core competency and outsource some of the training functions to training specialists? What is the financial impact of resolving product problems 30 percent faster?)
• Improving customer satisfaction/loyalty
  

OpLaunch can create training materials and deliver classroom or online training to:

• Developers
• Sales organizations
• Support organizations
• Other internal groups (such as executive management, manufacturing, engineering, and marketing)
• Partners
• Customers

OpLaunch can produce training to match your training evaluation requirements.

• Level 0: Activity (Did the student attend the class? Finish the class?)
• Level 1: Reaction (Were the learner's happy?)
• Level 2: Learning (Can the learner pass a written test?)
• Level 3: Behavior (Did the learner's on-the-job actions change as a result of the training?)
• Level 4: Business results (Did the training have a measurable impact on business results?)
• Level 5: Return on investment (Did the benefits of the training exceed the cost of the training?)

[Level 0 (Information used by the learning management system), Levels 1-4 (Kirkpatrick 1975) and Level 5 (Phillips 1997)]

We can develop blended training that includes the proper combination of training types which include:

• Centralized, in-person classroom (lecture) and laboratory
• Distributed (which includes web casting)
• Self-paced
• Just-in-time reference materials

Training Delivery Types

OpLaunch can implement the best solution by developing the appropriate content and by selecting the best media type to deliver your message. These media types may include:

Webcast - A very successful webcast involves more than the technology of sending a live stream of audio and a set of slides to a distributed audience. Beside the aesthetic characterization, a successful webcast should have outstanding content that is promptly available. The message should be targeted and concise. It should have abundant business value when it is presented to your target audience. A great webcast should resemble a television news program or an educational program from one of the specialty channels.

PC-based Presentations - Presentations, such as Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, are frequently a primary communication tool. A professional looking presentation (graphics, images, and design) with great content (text), supporting notes pages (handouts), and supporting aids (such as animation) is expected by the press, analysts, sales, support, and customer groups.

Video, linear - Information that is intended to be viewed from beginning to end can be low cost and have fast turnaround. Business examples include: executive presentations, equipment maintenance, system operation, seminars, and virtual tours. Usually, these productions are delivered on DVD or VHS videotape.

Video, interactive - Information that is intended to be viewed in small segments to complete a specific task is suited to devlivery by CD-ROM or the Internet. Business examples include: equipment maintenance, system operation, and just-in-time training. Two primary advantages over traditional video are random access (the ability to jump to specific content or replay specific content) and accessibility (video can be played on desk top or lap top computers without additional equipment like a video player and video monitor).

Screen Movies - This method is used to capture the activity on a computer monitor. Screen movies are ideal for showing the operation of software by an expert user. Raw screen movies can be enhanced with supplemental graphics and delivered like as interactive video

Computer-based Training - Computer-based training (CBT) applications usually combine media assets (such as text, graphics, animations, digital video, and screen movies) to create self-paced learning packages.

Web-native Content - Information that must be revised and re-distributed quickly is a good candidate for distribution using the Internet. Production techniques are optimized for the amount of data per time that can be delivered to the user. Browser compatibility/capability issues can define the content that can be delivered.

Print - For product launch, paper or PDF documents are used to deliver items such as product specifications, sales guides, service information, and collateral for customers.

We can enhance training content using:

• Video content [including streaming video content in Flash, QuickTime, Real, and Microsoft formats]
• On-line assessments (such as quizzes and tests)
• Illustrations which can include electrical schematics
• 3D graphics
• 3D animation
• 2D animation (which includes Flash animation)
• Digital photography
• CD-ROM applications (such as customer training, product installation, product upgrades, and technical reference)
• Web-native content

NPD-tuned Training Services

Our training services are NPD-tuned services. They are an enhanced version of training services for a collaborative new product or service development environment. The OpLaunch team is differentiated from other professional training development companies by complementary experience in areas such as:

• Content development services supported by interviews, research, technical writing, and graphics
• Science and technology training in areas such as chemistry, electronics, physics, software, and computer systems
• Multimedia development (such as interactive product demonstrations, testing, and screen movies)
• Usability, instructional design, and training development
• New product development and product life cycle management

Since 1983, we have designed and produced training materials for technology-centric clients. We routinely deal with scientists, engineers, business analysts, and company executives to produce exceptional training results.