1. Chapter 14 discusses the concept of the evolution of human performance improvement. Several sections of chapter 14 present a variety of non-instructional solutions to performance problems. Identify a performance problem in your area of work and provide a non-instructional solution to solve the problem.
In my current job I find that instruction is not usually a problem. During this last year we implemented new accounting software. Most everyone understands all of the processes that are used to complete the task that are asked of them but there are still many mistakes that were happening. We have found that there are two reasons that commonly cause poor performance. Lack of manpower and no incentives to do the job as instructed. Since this discovery we have hired more people and instituted an incentive program. For every month we go without 10 incidents each employee receives a one hundred dollar bonus. So far we have seen performance increase by 30% in just our first two months of implementation.
2. Chapter 15 presents several definitions of electronic performance support systems. In addition to these definitions, locate a few more and indicate your preference explaining why you prefer it. Additionally, describe why you believe EPSS have not been widely used and if they are more likely be become more prevalent in the future.
PCMag.com describes EPSS as a computer system that provides quick assistance and information without requiring prior training to use it. It may incorporate all forms of multimedia delivery as well as AI techniques such as expert systems and natural language recognition. http://www.pcmag.com
Trainingmanager.biz says EPSS provide employees with the information, advice, and learning experiences they need to get up to speed as quickly as possible and with the minimum support from other people. EPSS solutions include:
• On-line Help/Reference/Job Aids
• Best Practices/Expert Advice
dictionary.reference.com states that EPSS is a system that provides electronic task guidance and support to the user at the moment of need. EPSS can provide application help, reference information, guided instructions and/or tutorials, subject matter expert advice and hints on how to perform a task more efficiently. An EPSS can combine various technologies to present the desired information. The information can be in the form of text, graphical displays, sound, and video presentations.
I personally preferred the definition used by trainingmanager.biz. It describes exactly what an EPSS does without a long explanation. Which if you read the definition of an EPSS you find that is exactly what the system is, a user friendly way to train. I think they are not widespread because they still may be too complex for some people. (Especially those who have never used a lot of technology.) In my current job we have EPSS available to all of us in our new account software call UPK’s. (User Productivity Kit) They are available to us with just the click of a button. When someone asks me a question about how to do something the first thing I do is send them to do the UPK first. Most of the time I find that all they need. Because of this I do believe that EPSS will be more widespread in the future.
3. Knowledge management is the way we manage information, share that information, and use it. Organizations, such as schools, are full of information/data and we must organize that data in a way that we can make sense of it. We use data to make decisions and good data=good decision-making. Identify a real or hypothetical problem in your line of work. How might a blended learning approach, including the use of a knowledge management system, be use to solve the problem?
In my current line of work we deal with numbers, specifically credit and collections. Knowledge management systems are invaluable to my department. Our current accounting system collects these numbers and places them into reports that we retrieve daily. Such as currents sales, outstanding balances, moneys collected, etc. Previously these reports were not available to us and had to be collected by each person making it very difficult to receive an accurate report. Because it is all computer operated and correct we achieve the good data=good decision-making.
4. Describe the types of informal learning you have been exposed to in your adult life. What was the purpose? What was the experience like? Was it engaging? Social? What role did you play? What role did the instructor play?
I would describe myself as an informal learner. There are many instances in my life where I have taken to informal learning instead of traditional classroom. The biggest one is working with computers. Besides the basic computer course I had to take in college I had never had any training. When I was hired at my first real job I had to be able to create spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel. I knew there were classes I could take but at the time I couldn’t afford to. So instead I got online and read as much as I could about the program. When I would learn something new I would get into Excel and use it. I did this for most of the major functions and now I would say that I am more that savvy with the program. I often use this approach with a lot of things I do. I watch videos, read and chat in online forums and use online help.
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