It is important for managers and organizations to consider a number of different factors when determing the best training delivery approach for their staff or organization. Factors include: efficiency, timeliness, consistency and appropriateness of the delivery method. The key factor for most organizations, however, is program cost. Program cost may be comprised of a number of related sub-factors, too, which may include: development costs, instructor time, materials, travel, and opportunity costs for the students and participants. All these factors can have a wide variance, even in similar programs, due to the delivery method used.

Managers may want to develop their own mathematical model to better understand the relationship between costs and delivery of their training programs. Many managers have found a common key element when they have analyzed the costs of their learning programs. Their key finding: e-learning is less expensive to deliver almost regardless of the participant population. For example: in populations where the participants number 100 or more, e-learning had clear cost advantages and as the population number increases, so does the cost advantage. Cost advantages were still measureable in groups of 100 or less and even with classes as short as one hour in length. In a corporate study conducted by Catepillar, they determined that e-learning was 40% less expensive than the tradiational classroom models.

When preparing to conduct a cost analysis study, managers should be prepared to understand all the different factors involved with the development and delivery of training programs and then develop a customized list of factors that are applicable to the organization’s training needs and environment. For example, the costs associated with a physical classroom can widely vary depending on the geographic and physical plant characteristics of the company. For some organizations, it may not be relevant to conduct any sort of market analysis if their niche market is highly specialized or small. On the other hand, factors such as timeliness, travel costs or development costs may be very relevant for the organization to consider say, for example, if they are outsourcing their training programs.

After the manager has created their unique “model” or list of factors or variables for analysis, they are ready to begin the comparison process. Gather data from comoparable organizations or training delivery programs, preferably from those using like and differening models. This will help in benchmarking the organization’s costs to that of comparable companies. If the organization or department has specific regulatory or quality assurance standards, such as Cancer Registry departments as part of a healthcare organization, the costs associated with training (or not providing training) for compliance may also need to included in the analysis process.

e-Learning may not be the best delivery method for all training. For example, programs that require role-playing, individual or group interaction or observation of the participants are not conducive to online learning. On the other hand, the total cost of delivering instructor-led classes to many students must be taken into consideration whenever the organization begins planning a large training program. Cost analysis may reveal that a combination of both e-learning and tradiational classroom can deliver the optimal training delivery needs of the organization. Once the manager has completed the cost comparison process results should be documented carefully and used for future comparative studies or even for training program justification and strategic planning purposes.

Copyright 2005, M. A. Webb. All Rights Reserved

PUBLISHING RIGHTS:

You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your e-book or on your website, free of charge, as long as the author’s information and web link are included at the bottom of the article and the article is not changed, modified or altered in any way. The web link should be active when the article is reprinted on a web site or in an email. The author would appreciate an email indicating you wish to post this article to a website, and the link to where it is posted.

About Michele: She has 20+ years experience in oncology healthcare, including Cancer Registry management. You can learn more about cutting-edge learning tools and opportunities by visiting her Cancer Registry (http://www.CancerRegistryTraining.com) and online training site (http://www.eStudy4U.com)and new blog (WeTrainU.blogspot.com).

In my November 5th article on NBA futures, I noted that the LA Clippers might possibly be the most improved team in the league. I made the Clippers OVER 38 wins my top future recommendation and two weeks into the NBA season they’ve done little to disappoint. After last night’s 109-85 demolition of Milwaukee, the 6-2 Clippers are off to the best start in franchise history and tied with World Champion San Antonio for the best record in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.

The Clippers have done it with defense, solid rebounding, and most importantly by adding veterans Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley to a previously suspect backcourt.

Cassell, a 13-year veteran out of Florida State, is a solid floor general at the point and has seemingly been rejuvenated playing with quality young talent. Cassell (in his contact year with not many left) is averaging 15.5 ppg, 8.1 apg (4th in NBA), and has converted 27 of 28 free attempts. The 36 year-old PG is giving Mike Dunleavy a quality 34 mpg after being limited to 59 games and 25 mpg last year at Minnesota.

After not being able to resign Bobby Simmons, the Clippers took a chance on signing career malcontent and supposed locker-room cancer Cuttino Mobley to huge 42 million five-year deal. Mobley has been a perfect fit avgg 16.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, and 3.6 apg and along with Cassell provides the Clips with a perimeter threat they haven’t had in years.

Elton Brand is the undoubtedly the most underrated player in NBA. Buried on some very bad Bull and Clipper teams, the seven-year man out of Duke has avgd 19.6/10.3 for his career and 23.9/9.6 this year. He’s second in the NBA in offensive rebounds with 28 and is always top five in the league in double-doubles.

Corey Maggette has become a star. After sitting out the Clippers first four games with a hamstring injury, Maggette has selflessly come off the pine to give LA 19.5/5.0 pg in just 27 mpg worth of work. Maggette is a force on the glass and works hard on the defensive end. always providing energy.

The Clipper role players sound like a roster out of the witness protection program but have all made contributions to a team that appears to have excellent chemistry.

Quinton Ross (7.5 ppg) is a second-year free agent out of SMU that has started all eight games at SF before usually giving way to Maggette. The jury is still out as to whether or not Chris Kamen will go down as another Elgin Baylor draft bust. The 7′ big man from Central Michigan has not exhibited the offensive skills he used to terrorize the Mac a few years ago but he is a big body in the paint that is tough on the defensive boards taking pressure of Brand and allowing Maggette to do other things.
Unheralded James Singleton (4th in off reb per 48 min, 2nd in NBA in steals per turnover) is bringing a solid 6.0/6.6 to the table every night and ex-Maryland Terp Chris Wilcox has been productive in his limited minutes. Former Dukie Daniel Ewing (6.3 ppg in 20 mpg) is shooting 45% from the field and has Blue Devil all-around game.

Clippers have two days off before facing division opponents Lakers on Friday and the Golden State on Sunday. After facing Toronto at home, Clippers have rugged 10-game stretch where they are at Denver, Indiana, at Minnesota, home and home vs. Cavs, Miami/NY/Phoenix/Detroit at home before traveling to San Antonio. It won’t be much longer before we know if the LA Clippers are a contender or a pretender.

Dennis Macklin is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League.
Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/Dennis_Macklin.htm

Yes, women are starting businesses in the US and many other countries at twice the rate of men. But why are businesses owned by women still not taken seriously?

In my book, “Testosterone-Free Marketing: The Yin and Yang of Marketing for Women” I reveal why marketing is challenging for millions of women business owners. Many women don’t market as effectively. They get fewer sales and enjoy less financial freedom. Some women take to marketing and sales effortlessly. Most avoid it. Women have great relationship-building skills. However, as important as relationship building skills are, they usually won’t always take a business owner all the way to having a new client or customer.

Successful Home-based Business Ownership Requires a Shift in Skills

Women start businesses with years of skill honed in previous jobs. Or, they become distributors for a product they enjoy a passion for. They also bring characteristics that make them wonderful mothers, wives and friends. Sometimes those characteristics don’t serve them in business. When a woman shifts and becomes more pro-active and more confident - the business often finally takes off.

For example, many women feel uncomfortable ‘tooting their own horn.’ They were taught ‘a good girl’ doesn’t do that. Or, a woman may have been told to wait for people to come to her. Surprisingly, many women believe making a profit is cheating or taking advantage of customers. These ingrained traits make it difficult for women to succeed.

Who Else Wants to Say Goodbye to “Testosterone-Heavy Marketing?”

Many marketing books sport either infantry-division camouflage on the cover or war and sports analogies. “Scorched earth marketing” makes many women uncomfortable. Women are about relationships, not killing. These relics of ‘old boys testosterone-heavy’ marketing make women uneasy - but they’re unsure why. Women didn’t grow up playing “war.” And even if they did play sports, friendships were often more important than the score.

It’s time for women to re-frame marketing and view it not as “killing the competition” but as “creating” so they can put more profits in their purse. Women create the human race. We can give birth to, nurture and raise a successful business.

Katherine and Lana: Women at the Crossroads of Success

Katherine struggled. Her website business was a confusing hodge-podge of freebies. Nothing led visitors to believe the information was from an authoritative source. Katherine wouldn’t call herself an expert even though she was extremely knowledgeable. Because her site was loaded with freebies, the only people who visited were people looking for freebies - not buyers.

Her family scraped along. One year later with a lot of positve changes that helped her become a more savvy, confident marketer her business has much more cash flow coming in. She raised prices on her products twice and gives away a lot less freebies. She also charges $45 an hour for her expertise rather than giving it away. When she started making more money her marriage improved. Family life became more relaxed. Recently Katherine and her family moved into a larger, newer home.

Lana is a copywriter who specialized in working with non-profits. She’s bright and computer-savvy. Lana would cut rates because she couldn’t stop thinking how she would pay the rent. I told Lana she needed to build her value with effective marketing instead of cutting rates. When people tried to chisel down her rate it wasn’t necessarily because they couldn’t afford her - but because they wanted to get the best deal. She learned to attract clients willing to pay without discounting. In six months she switched from working with non-profits to business owners and quadrupled her rates.

Discover Erroneous Beliefs that Hold Women Back

I’ve coached over 1,200 people in marketing. Half men and half women. I teach strategies to help women understand automatic behaviors that don’t serve them in business. Knee jerk reactions can keep you from enjoying the success you deserve.
You can discover new ways to grow comfortable getting new customers and clients easily. This leads to a viable, profitable business. Once you understand the “cause” and “effect” you will look at owning a business differently. Marketing is not about being tough or manipulative. It’s about knowing your value, honoring you and stating it so people want to say “yes.”

Grow Market Savvy or Accept the Crumbs Tossed Your Way

You may be skilled, well-educated and talented at what you do. But you still have to market and sell. Women need marketing and selling support that’s comfortable and works with your style as a woman. When you do you’ll get a boost of self-confidence, have a business you love and enjoy marketing and selling. You can succeed, enjoy your freedom, relax and be yourself.

With over two decades successful experience in sales, advertising, public relations, market research and planning, Denise Michaels has worked with top authors and seminar leaders. Author of “Testosterone-Free Marketing” you can discover more about Denise online at http://www.MarketingForHer.com Or, email her at: smartprotege@msn.com