Online Determine eLearning Training

QC Tools - Scatter Diagrams This is another course in a series of eight courses on the seven basic tools of quality as defined by Ishikawa. The scatter diagram is a tool to graphically represent the relationship between two variables. It relies on the human brain's amazing ability to recognize patterns. This diagram can be used to determine correlation between the two variables plotted. more...

Intermediate DC Circuit Theory This intermediate course on DC circuit analysis discusses various methods of analyzing circuits to determine currents and voltages. more...

Presentation Skills Course description -- One of the biggest fears for managers and others is speaking in public. You will receive worksheets and checklists to help you plan and present your remarks for the most impact, and you will learn how to deal with the anxiety that so often accompanies such assignments. The course includes tools and techniques to help you determine what the audience wants and needs, methods to more...

Qualifying Sales Prospects Course description -- Everyone must manage the time and energy they have to get the most results for their efforts. For sales professionals, part of this efficiency comes from qualifying sales prospects. This course has tools, techniques and methods for making sure that you are following sound principles as you qualify prospects and determine where to invest your time for the best potential more...

Creating a Strong Leadership Team Course description -- This course delivers the key elements of how to create a leadership team that is a model for the rest of the organization. The Strategies and Tips are practical tools and methods to create and maintain a shared vision, define roles and responsibilities, and determine mutual goals and priorities. Key Points also include techniques for avoiding power struggles and resolving more...

Delegating Course description -- This course takes you through every step of the delegation process from beginning to end. You will learn how to define the task and determine to whom it should be given. There are tips and techniques for monitoring the projecta s progress without micromanaging, and methods for coaching and developing employees along the way. There are also tools and methods to help you get more...

Recognizing and Managing Anger Course description -- After learning to identify the different sources of anger, you will be given tools and methods to help you determine the emotional roots of your own anger and recognize how it manifests in your life. Tips will help you recognize your responses to anger, and give you tools to manage it. You will also be given powerful techniques that will help you use your anger to gain more...

Understanding and Using Contracts Course description -- In almost every business transaction a contract is made. This course will tell you how to know when a true contract has been made, identify when it is binding, and determine the limitations and scope of the agreements. It will also give you information and guidelines on how and when to sever the contract, how to modify it, and how to circumvent potential problems. IMPORTANT more...

Manufactured Housing Appraisal Valuation Course This course will teach each student how to determine the value of a Manufactured Home, using the NADA Manufactured Housing Guide and other methods. This course is designed to allow you to sit for various exams that may lead to Certification. more...

Royce Hotel Case Study 5: Process Operations planning and Operations Management has never been more sophisticated, nor more demanding. The pressure to improve quality; the need to manage materials and people more cost effectively; the drive to manage capacity more flexibly; and develop control systems which highlight problems while there's still time to do something about them, conspire to make the role of Operations Manager one more...

Coping with Stress Series: Your Attitude to Stress People are working under more and more pressure... whether the cause is difficult colleagues, priorities and deadlines, or just life in general. We all need a certain degree of pressure, and pressure can have positive effects - deadlines, confrontations, competition - all add depth and colour to our lives. But they can also lead to stress. But you can control your reaction. How you perceive more...

Project Management: Time Management In Project Management: Time Management, participants learn how to identify the activities involved with a project and construct a network diagram based on those activities. They learn how to determine the critical path for a project. They also learn about several mathematical analysis techniques, such as CPM and PERT, to develop project schedules. more...

Project Management: Communications In this program, participants develop the skills they need to create or open communication channels and disseminate project information in an effective and timely manner. They learn how to develop a communication management plan and acquire techniques for improving the communication of information. more...

Project Management: Contracts and Procurement In this program, project managers learn how to determine their procurement needs and prepare procurement documents when soliciting suppliers' proposals. They also acquire techniques for completing source selection and administering contracts effectively. more...

The Professional Teller: Identifying Negotiable Instruments The Professional Teller: Identifying Negotiable Instruments gives the student an understanding of the various types of negotiable instruments, how to recognize negotiable instruments, and the six items that every negotiable instrument must have. The student will also learn how to apply this knowledge when cashing and depositing negotiable instruments, such as checks, for customers. Additionally, more...

Microsoft Windows 2000 Designing a Directory Services Infrastructure Part 2: Domain Structure and S Microsoft Windows 2000 Designing a Directory Services Infrastructure Part 2: Domain Structure and Site Topology shows the learner how to design and develop a domain strategy. It also covers how to design multiple domains and the design principles in relation to site topology. more...

Microsoft SQL Server 7.0: Designing and Implementing Data Warehouses - Part 2 This is the second course in a five part series that will help students prepare for the Microsoft Certified Professional exam 70-019, Designing and Implementing Data Warehouses with Microsoft SQL Server 7.0. At the completion of this course, students will learn to identify the design characteristics of OLAP systems and Aggregate schemas; identify the data warehouse models; identify the Data more...

Professional Assertiveness Do you feel that co-workers see you as too passive or aggressive in your professional career? Do you wonder if there is a more appropriate professional style? Do you want to know how to develop your professional style? Do you feel you could develop your assertive communication techniques? Do you feel that you may not listen to your co-workers? Or do you feel that you need to develop your more...

Framing the Problem When you frame a picture, you intend for the viewer to examine everything within that border. Problem framing is similar in that you must not only consider what objectively makes up the problem itself but also what subjective tendencies influence your view of the situation. This course is designed to help you effectively frame problems so that you're sure your line of sight is aimed straight more...

VPNs Using Cisco Pre-Shared Keys To configure VPNs using Cisco pre-shared keys The primary target includes network designers, network administrators, network engineers, and system engineers. more...

Overview of Business Process Management In today's business world, competition is tough. Organizations are under a great deal of pressure to become more productive and more efficient while developing new, innovative products and services more rapidly than ever before. Management is demanding improved quality, reduced costs, and increased productivity with fewer resources. How can organizations respond to these pressures while remaining more...

Project Management Professional Time Management II .... After the completion of this course you will be able to determine the appropriate project activities to crash, determine the appropriate project activities to fast track and identify the implications of resource leveling. The Prime-Project Management Professional curriculum introduces advanced level project coordination techniques within the areas of organization, resource management, quality more...

Configuring Basic and Advanced Route Plans To explain how to configure basic and advanced route plans in Cisco CallManager IT professionals responsible for installing, configuring, and maintaining the ongoing administration of a Cisco IP telephony solution; candidates preparing for the Cisco IP Telephony exam (642-444 CIPT) more...

Process Analysis and Documentation The Six Sigma DMAIC system is a roadmap that points the way to process and performance improvement. The second phase in this methodology is Measure. You cannot hope to improve processes and performance without first knowing where you are, assessing where you want to be, and then planning how to get there, while measuring progress toward the goal all along the way. In the words of an old adage, more...

The Process of Globalizing a Product or Service Actually going global takes both planning and doing. In this course, you'll learn about the three major steps you need to cover to globalize a product or service. First, pick the right geographic location for your corporate goals and create a good plan for globalizing the product or service you're working with. Then "globalize" your product or service and let the world know you're open for more...

The Art of Global Communication Considering that communication is something you do every day, how many people actually stop to consider what is happening before they speak? Can you just talk without thinking too much about the target audience, the message to be communicated, and a host of other information? Communication is too important to be left to chance. The subtleties of language, expressions, and gestures all enrich the more...

Transferring Files Settings to Your Microsoft Windows Vista PC The Transferring Files and Settings to Your New Microsoft Windows Vista PC course provides an overview of transferring files and settings to a new Windows Vista computer. In this course, the learner will understand the requirements for transferring files and settings. The course covers the Windows Easy Transfer wizard to transfer files and settings over a network or using a removable media. more...

Presenting Your Proposition Even the most confident sales people can feel their self-assurance dissolve when required to make a formal sales presentation. This course is about giving you the confidence, not only to present, but also to get commitment from your customer. Demonstrating a structure that can be adapted to most situations, this course will equip you with the skills needed to deal with the most intimidating more...

Negotiating to Mutual Benefit The key to being a skilled negotiator is understanding the difference between negotiating and giving money away. This course demonstrates the stages and rules that will gain you a win/win solution, and with it long-term business. If you follow the guidelines set out here, you will be able to handle customer strategies and still close the deal on terms that keep both your company and your customer more...

From Executive-level Sale to Strategic Partnership Selling at an executive level doesn't stop when the contract is signed. To develop the business and prevent attack from the competition, major accounts need nurturing. This course illustrates how knowledge of various corporate cultures will give you a customer compatible approach that safeguards and maximizes your account revenue. Salespeople who sell at an executive level and obtain and maintain more...

Understanding Your Customer Can you imagine trying to sell a product or service to a customer you know nothing about? You probably wouldn't succeed. The better you know your customer, the higher your chance for success. In this course, you'll learn about the first major component of the strategic account sales (SAS) approach: research. You'll start by learning about the key areas to research using the SAS approach and where more...

Strategic Account Sales Skills Simulation ...r attending a crowded book reading at Bigler's Books, you determine that the store is a potential customer for your company's services. You use a strategic account sales approach to do research on your own and then conduct research meetings with some contacts that work for the store. Unfortunately, you discover that Bigler's manager has serious reservations about remodeling and expanding. To more...

Planning Your Field Sales Approach What factors mark the difference between mediocre and great field sales performance? One characteristic of highly effective field sales representatives is their ability to efficiently plan their sales approach for both existing customers and prospects, as well as managing their time and territories effectively. Planning Your Field Sales Approach provides practical tools for determining call and more...

Field Sales Foundations Many field sales representatives are set loose on their assigned territories armed only with a few sales tips and some information about the products and services they're selling. This course builds the foundation for a strategy that changes the customer's perception of the salesperson from a mere vendor to a consultant and true business resource. Field Sales Foundations introduces you to the more...

Relationship Management Preparing the Client Relationship In Relationship Management - Preparing the Client Relationship, you will learn about the importance of developing a relationship with a client in which you serve not as a salesperson, but as a trusted advisor. You will learn what unique needs clients have as a result of the Information Age and the importance that trust plays in turning clients into loyal customers. You will also learn what more...

Applying Your Field Sales Approach ...atives is their ability to assess their customers' needs, determine sales opportunities, and access the decision makers--often in one or two sales calls. Sound impossible? It's not if the sales professional applies the essentials presented in Applying Your Field Sales Approach. This course provides sales strategies to change your customers' perceptions of you from vendor to sales consultant by more...

Federal Government Industry Overview Version 1 The Federal Government is the largest contractor and buyer of services and products in the U.S., spending over $200 billion annually. Regardless of what business you are in, chances are there is a government agency in need of your product or service. Winning a government contract can be challenging, and millions of dollars in potential contracts are lost to companies who do not understand more...

Initiating Outbound Sales Calls Fifteen seconds doesn't sound like very much time, does it? As an inside sales consultant, you will have a lot riding on what happens in those few seconds. That is usually all the time you have to make a solid, positive impression on your customer. Knowing how to initiate an inside sales call is a key to your success. In this course, you will learn the strategies for dealing with voice mail and more...

Completing Outbound Sales Calls ... learn the steps involved in a sales presentation, how to determine the most effective sales strategy for your sales call, and how to determine the customer's valuation of your product or service. In this course, you will learn the seven characteristics of effective sales presentations, the steps for effectively conducting a sales presentation, and strategies for presenting to different buying more...

Completing Inbound Sales Calls ... one-call and multiple-call closes. You will learn how to determine the best strategies for inbound sales presentations and explore the characteristics of an effective inbound sales presentation, as well as the features, benefits, and value of a solution. You will learn how to conduct an effective inbound sales presentation, in addition to learning the strategies to use in presenting to various more...

Telecommunications Industry Overview Version 1 Connecting the world, the telecommunications industry stands as one of the most essential elements of the business world. It is also one of the most volatile. Plagued by regulatory discord and economic uncertainty, telecom carriers have struggled to maintain sound footing and a competitive edge, all the while endeavoring to provide crucial, uninterrupted service to their customers. In an age of more...

ITIL Configuration and Release Management Organizations make substantial investments in their information technology infrastructures. That investment pays off only if the organization uses its information resources to increase productivity. Information technology planners and managers must understand how the components of the IT infrastructure interact if they want to eliminate waste and improve service to the users of the system. The more...

Technical Support Essentials These days, technical support agents (TSAs) can't provide world-class technical service and support unless they understand contact center technology. They also need to understand the various elements and stages of a call--and what to do with the information gained. This course explains contact center technology and TSA activities. It covers the technology that links the TSA to the customer and to more...

Assessing Customer Behavior In the modern customer-centric business model, dealing with all customers in a positive and efficient manner is paramount. But this goal can become daunting to a TSA who has not developed the ability to identify various behavior types and apply appropriate techniques to deal with them in a way that builds a positive relationship between the customer and the company. This course instructs agents in more...

Technical Support Agent Survival Skills Coping with stress is an everyday issue for the Technical Support Agent (TSA). The focus of this course is specifically directed to the situations that TSAs encounter. The course will help the TSA avoid burnout and manage job responsibilities by identifying the causes of stress, prevention methods, and time management skills. Technical Support Agents seeking to acquire new skills or improve the more...

Inbound Call Center Management Leadership Did you know that your personality can greatly affect your leadership skills? Are you aware that even if you are a fabulous manager, you may not be an effective leader? As a call center manager, how can you motivate everyone, including senior management, to work together toward a common goal? As you progress through this "Inbound Call Center Management: Leadership" course, you will become aware more...

Inbound Call Center Technology Today, the technology within the inbound call center is constantly changing and improving. How can you, as a call center manager, keep up with this advancing technology? Moreover, why should you? This course will explain the fundamentals of inbound call center technology, and explore ways current technology might evolve. It examines different methods of obtaining this technology, and outlines how more...

Bridge The Expectations Gap You have to be prepared to walk a mile in their shoes to understand more fully what customers experience when they deal with your company. There's nothing more effective in emphasizing the gap between what you believe their experiences to be and their realities than thinking and acting like a customer. This course takes you through several processes for doing exactly that, and you'll be shown how more...

Discovering What Your Customers Want The data are in, and there's no doubt about it: The return on customer loyalty goes directly to your company's bottom line. Too often, however, organizations seeking to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty begin with a survey. To build a successful customer satisfaction system, you have to begin with the basics. When customer satisfaction programs begin with a survey, and not a plan, the more...

Developing Customer Satisfaction Surveys By the time most people have the chance to develop their first survey, they've seen so many that it seems like developing one will be a piece of cake. To an extent, they're right. Developing a GIGO (Garbage In/Garbage Out) survey is a no-brainer. Developing a survey that gets valid, reliable data, however, is both science and art. In this course, you'll learn to use the principles of survey design more...

The Client-Consultant Relationship Getting to know your clients and their needs are the vital first steps to establishing productive working relationships. Understanding more about their organizations and what they expect from you will be essential if you are to provide a high-quality service that will excite them. You will also need to know how to recognize all the stakeholders and the real decision makers within an organization, more...

Evaluating Internal Assignments So, is it success or failure? It's crucial that you take time to review your project and confirm outcomes on completion. What has been achieved, and what didn't go as planned? And how have you performed personally? Of course, success depends on your ability as an internal consultant to continually develop in the role, increase your skills, and make overall improvements in your performance. This more...

Essentials of Internal Consulting You may already have a reputation as something of an area specialist. Perhaps you've now been asked to deploy your knowledge in an internal consulting role. Or maybe you've always been attracted to this role and you would now like to find out more? What will it mean for you? What does an internal consultant do? How do you become one? And if you have just become one, what is expected of you? This more...

Evaluation and Review So, is it success or failure? It's crucial that you take time to review your completed project and confirm the outcomes. What has been achieved, and what didn't go as planned? And how have you performed personally? Of course, success depends on your ability as an external consultant to continually develop in the role, increase your skills, and make overall improvements in your performance. This more...

Diagnosing and Planning Your success as a consultant depends on your ability to diagnose each situation correctly. You need to use your previous experience, and bring fresh ideas to every new contract. Frameworks and models help you to make an effective diagnosis. They help you to evaluate the strategic position of the client organization, which is vital. To deliver solutions that are relevant and appropriate to the more...

A Workable Solution for Internal Clients One of the many challenges of working as an internal consultant is that of "making things happen." But making decisions isn't always easy. There are so many options and you may encounter resistance to changes you propose during internal consulting assignments. How should you deal with this? And how can you be so sure that working practices won't simply revert back once you're "off the scene?" You more...

Establishing a Relationship with Internal Clients Even if your clients are internal to your organization, you still need to spend time getting to know them, and understanding what it is they require from you. When you are dealing with internal clients, there may be a temptation to think you know everything about them, and about the project. This course will stop you from making that mistake. It will enable you to understand your clients' needs more...

Internal Consulting Skills What skills do you need to be a successful internal consultant? What skills do you have already, and which should you develop further? This course gives you the opportunity to review your existing abilities and ways of improving your current performance. Internal consulting is not only about your specialist or technical knowledge. It's about your ability to communicate. If you fail to get your more...

Effective Communication Skills Effective communication is essential to the success of any customer-oriented business. Each customer will have their own style of communication as well as an emotional response to contacting a support center. In order to effectively communicate, the Customer Support Specialist (CSS) must understand how to adapt to these different styles and emotions before the customer's problems can be dealt more...

Management Tools and Metrics Customers contacting Support Centers expect the same level of professionalism each time they interact with a Customer Support Specialist (CSS). To ensure this consistently high level of service, the CSS can draw an array of management tools and processes that both guide and measure his performance. This course is intended to demonstrate the management and measurement tools a professional CSS is more...

The Customer Support Specialist CSS It costs a business much more to acquire a new customer than it does to retain an existing one. So it makes sense that a business must do everything it can to support and satisfy existing customers. Handling complaints effectively and efficiently can result in increased customer loyalty. Today's Customer Support Specialists (CSS) and support centers have a vital role to play in ensuring customers' more...

Establishing Team and Customer Relationships This course will familiarize the learner with the underlying benefits and skills needed to establish team and customer relationships. Teamwork is a critical component of a Support Center. This course looks at the individual responsibilities of each team member, as well as the team as a whole. It also addresses the role of strong leadership in building and maintaining successful teams. In a more...

Creating Effective Contracts When you hear the word "contract", you may think of a written, legal document. However, when it comes to consulting relationships, contracts are more about setting expectations and involving the right people instead of setting legal parameters. In this course, you'll examine how to approach contracting, the considerations that are most important, and how you should approach the contracting more...

Initiating a Project and Preparing the Project Plan Project integration management is concerned with ensuring the proper coordination of project processes so project objectives are achieved. Successful project managers use project integration management to integrate project processes, maximize performance, and meet project goals throughout the life cycle of a project. This course will highlight the importance of project integration management to more...

Elements of Project Human Resource Management When project managers set their sights on delivering creative project solutions on time and within budget, they must select and manage a team of experienced and competent professionals who can meet the challenge. This requires that project managers understand the Project Human Resource Management processes of planning, selecting, developing, and managing a project team. Such an understanding more...

Budgeting and Controlling Costs A small change in schedule, resources, or scope can result in a major change in cost. The processes associated with Project Cost Management help Project Managers measure project performance and monitor cost variances. This course will highlight the importance of Project Cost Management to project performance. It will cover the inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs for the Cost Budgeting and more...

Estimating Activity Costs Most project managers are familiar with the sinking feeling that occurs when project costs exceed expectations. Project cost management is concerned with estimating and controlling the cost resources used to complete different project activities. This course will highlight the importance of project cost management to project performance. It will cover the project inputs, tools and techniques, and more...

The Life Cycle of an IT Project ...n your project's development process. You'll learn how to determine whether each phase of development meets the requirements of the life cycle structure. You'll also learn what you can do to manage these activities and what steps you can take to increase efficiencies for delivering successful projects. This course is specifically targeted at IT project managers and IT professionals preparing to more...

Managing the Execution and Control of IT Projects Did you know that the average IT project has cost overruns of nearly 200 percent, and that almost 30 percent of all IT projects fail? Why do you think IT projects are so vulnerable to cost overruns and failure? How can you ensure that your project does not end up as one of these statistics? You can avoid being a statistic by managing project scope, cost, and scheduling. As you go through this more...

Managing Efficiencies of IT Projects Are you delivering quality application systems? Do you know how you can ensure that your projects deliver value to your organization? The key to delivering value is "process." Organizations are becoming more aware of the importance of following the same process for each project. In this course, you will learn how to converge methodologies with other project management techniques and process more...

Initiating and Planning a Project Initiating and Planning are crucial phases in developing and executing any successful project. Companies that are embarking on a new project initiative must assign people to gather facts and decide what exactly they want to produce and how they are going to produce it. This course examines which factors should weigh in during the project selection process and how to effectively plan a project from more...

Managing a Project The factors of a successful project almost always end up depending on how much money and time is needed to create a product worthy of the customer. This course will help you manage the constraints of time, money, and schedules, and how they relate to the overall quality of your project and product. This course is targeted toward a diverse range of managers and staff members who wish to acquire the more...

Troubleshooting and Closing the Project The factors that can affect a project are numerous and often hard to pinpoint. Conducting meetings and using advanced tools, such as formulas and graphs, allow the project manager to properly define the health or status of the project. This course outlines how to conduct effective meetings and presents some troubleshooting tools that can be used during the project life cycle. It also presents the more...

Choosing Sellers and Administering and Closing Contracts How do you choose among potential sellers? Why is it important to manage the contract and relationship between the buyer and seller? What's the most effective way to complete and settle contracts? As you advance in this course, which focuses on seller selection, contract administration, and contract closure, you will obtain the skills and knowledge required to manage these areas of Project more...

The Execution Process Group Once you have completed initiating and planning for your program, it is time to take the steps necessary to execute the program. The Executing process group is concerned with following established policies and plans to ensure effective benefits and stakeholder management, as well as program governance. Management of this process is complex involving costing, quality assurance, and scheduling, more...

Advanced Project Management Building Productive Stakeholder Relationships ...s primary, strategic, and operational sponsors and how to determine stakeholders needs and expectations. It covers how to create a formal communication plan, how to resolve conflict with stakeholders, and what steps are commonly used to control change. Finally, it teaches questions to ask stakeholders to learn their definition of quality and guidelines for discussing costs of quality with more...

Advanced Project Management Setting Up a Project Office In Advanced Project Management: Setting Up a Project Office, you will learn terms associated with project office and the different functions a project office can fulfill. You will also learn how an organization can determine the need for, plan, and implement a project office. Project managers who are responsible for managing all aspects of a project from start to finish, for managing multiple more...

Defining the Issue Determine the Real Problem This course describes how to create a focused problem statement using the Occam s Razor method. Professionals who want to resolve workplace challenges more effectively. more...

Advanced Project Leadership Organization Strategy and Business Needs ...anization types. You will acquire the skills necessary to determine company strategy and the process to use that knowledge to determine whether or not the project supports company strategy. Lastly, you will learn what questions to use when preparing a Project Charter that is consistent with company strategy. Project managers who are responsible for managing all aspects of a project from start more...

The Foundations of Creativity and Innovation What is creativity, and how does it affect the brain? Why is it that people often have many of their best ideas once they leave work, when performing the most mundane tasks? Is this a coincidence, or is there a particular reason for it? As more and more organizations encourage employees to propose creative and innovative ideas in the workplace, it's imperative that you understand the foundations more...

Decimals and Percents A basic understanding of decimals and percentages is key to any businessperson, whether tallying costs for warehouse supplies or estimating resource allocation. This course instructs the learner in the following: how to use decimals, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; how to solve problems involving percentages to determine portions, a rate, a whole unit, and increases more...

Selecting Your Strategy Choose Your Game Plan .... After the completion of this course you will be able to determine if you are ready to choose a negotiation game, choose a game by comparing the importance of the desired outcome with the importance of the relationship and assess advanced selection criteria to select a negotiation game. The Negotiation Strategies curriculum helps today's busy professional identify and implement proven methods more...

Selecting Your Strategy Compete to Win Selecting Your Strategy: Compete to Win, is the seventh of eleven courses in this curriculum. After the completion of this course you will be able to identify the advantages and disadvantages of the competitive game, identify your preparatory steps for a competitive negotiation, identify the guidelines for controlling concessions and commitments and select competitive tactics to improve the more...

Ratios Averages and Graphs Whether tracking profitability or portraying the rate of inventory consumption, knowledge of ratios and averages is indispensable in the business world. Using real-world scenarios, this course explains the concepts of ratio, proportion, and how to compare different kinds of numbers; and discusses simple, weighted, and moving averages. Anyone who needs to apply basic math skills to business more...

The Role of Critical Thinking in Organizations In the organizational arena, applied critical thinking skills provide an essential foundation for all effective planning, problem-solving, and decision-making activities. Employees who can analyze and reason consistently and proficiently furnish a cost-efficient resource that results in a distinctive competitive advantage. Workers who are skeptical of quick fixes and operational dogma pay more...

Critical Thinking Skills for Managing Rational decision making is linear and is what you do when you put your facts in order. Intuition is looking at those facts and trying to see a pattern-and the patterns aren't always evident because the patterns aren't always linear. The two together are an extremely powerful combination. Joel Kurtzman, President, Kurtzman Associates and former editor, Harvard Business Review. The Critical more...

Successful Lifelong Learning Today's successful individual understands that the business world is constantly changing the way people work and the way work is accomplished. How often have you heard these terms: lifelong learning, self-directed learning, continuous learning, and knowledge worker? If you wonder what these terms really mean, why they are important, and how you rate as a worker and learner for the 21st century, more...

Presenting to Succeed There are a number of basic types of presentations, but all presentations have four things in common: a presenter, an audience, a venue, and a message. This course concentrates on showing how each of these vital elements has to be taken into account when preparing a presentation. Presenting is a skill that needs to be learned and practiced, starting with how you prepare, and you will be shown a more...

Delivering Your Message So, the presentation is prepared and practiced. Great. But this means nothing to the audience. When you stand there in front of them, all that matters to them is what you look like and what you say. This course is about delivering your message, and the techniques you need to do this. First of all, you have to make a positive first impression on your audience members by how and where you stand, by more...

Presentation Resources Available to You ...to know what visuals are available to you, and be able to determine which one suits a particular need. You need to know what makes a successful visual. Finally, you need to be able to use PowerPoint and other software packages appropriately, with a clear idea of what they can do. Some presenters are afraid of questions from the audience because they seem to represent a loss of control. This more...

Listening for Comprehension Do you need to better understand the basic meaning of a conversation or presentation? If you need to be able to identify what is said to you in a more effective manner, then this course is for you. This course teaches you how to comprehend verbal and visual messages to maximize your understanding of others. Because this course teaches listening skills, certain sections of this course deviate from more...

Listening for Higher Purposes Do you sometimes have difficulty using your listening skills to effectively evaluate arguments or appreciate complex ideas and emotions? This course teaches you how to listen more effectively for critical and empathic purposes to maximize your understanding. Persons at all levels of an organization. It is particularly useful to those who need strong listening skills, such as managers and team more...

Coping with Criticism and Feedback We all need feedback so that we can learn and improve. What we often get is criticism, or feedback given to us in such a way that we feel defensive or angry. When your emotions get involved, it is difficult to be objective and to use the feedback effectively. This course links the concept of emotional intelligence, and EQ, to the practice of receiving feedback. By doing this, it provides you with more...

Team Feedback A guide Teamwork is playing an increasingly significant role in the majority of today's top companies. This is based on the assumption that working in teams leads to better business performance. In that case, you must ensure that team performance is managed effectively--feedback being of crucial importance. Feedback about how the team is performing, how individuals are contributing to the team's more...

E-mail as a Marketing Tool How can you find new customers? How can you build stronger relationships with new and existing customers? How can you boost sales of your company's products and services? This course will provide you with useful strategies to help you incorporate electronic mail into your marketing approach. Learn how to communicate effectively with your customers through e-mail. You and your company will benefit more...

What Is Emotional Intelligence ...determine your destiny? For years, that was an overriding belief. However, new behavioral research shows that IQ provides, at best, a narrow view of human intelligence. Factors such as self-awareness, impulse control, persistence, zeal, self-motivation, empathy, and social deftness contribute greatly to an individual's success. These qualities, termed "emotional intelligence," often determine more...

Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace Simulation ...determine success? Or do self-awareness, impulse control, persistence, zeal, self-motivation, empathy, and social deftness factor heavily into the equation? While not as readily quantified as IQ, these qualities, collectively termed "emotional intelligence," often determine whether or not people excel in life, relationships, and the workplace. In this simulation, you'll test your emotional IQ more...

Building Relationships to Get Results You are not the boss. You've been called "peer," "esteemed colleague," "invaluable staff member," and "friend," but no one's even come close to calling you "boss." When you stop to think about it, you realize you have no real authority whatsoever. In fact, you have much more power than you think, even if you are on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder. As Jack London said, "Life is not always a more...

Teamwork and Results Without Authority When it comes to being a member of a team, what role do you think you should play? Legendary Alabama football coach Bear Bryant said, " In order to have a winner, the team must have a feeling of unity; every player must put the team first--ahead of personal glory." Yet, according to general George S. Patton Jr., "If everyone is thinking alike then somebody isn't thinking." When it comes to getting more...

Leadership Without Authority Lily Tomlin said, "I always wondered why somebody doesn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody." Tomlin could have been speaking on behalf of many employees in the corporate world who, despite having little authority, take it upon themselves to become leaders nonetheless. Becoming a leader, and getting results, without authority is especially important in today's corporate more...

Gaining Allies Creating Change If you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. Is this an effective strategy for gaining allies to create change? How about, "If you do it my way, you'll feel better about yourself"? Finding and winning partners for the purpose of creating change is not easy in the intensely competitive and harried environment of the corporate world. It's especially difficult when you lack authority. The people whose more...

Getting Results through Communication When you want something done, you have to either do it yourself or see to it that someone else does it. As adept as you may be at multi-tasking, there will be times when you'll need a colleague's help or buy-in to perform a task. But how can you effectively achieve results without any formal authority within the organization? Communication is the answer. Through the effective use of the various more...

Getting Results from the Boss What does the word "boss" mean to you? Does it stand for Big Old Stubborn Sourpuss? Or does "boss" conjure an image of a level-headed, flexible, and thoughtful co-worker? Whatever the case, as an employee working in a subordinate role, it's up to you to learn how to get the results you desire. That means knowing how to do everything from building a relationship with your boss to dealing more...

Preparing a Business Case Why put time and effort into preparing, writing, and presenting a business case for new projects? Why not just talk to the manager and get his approval for the project? The answers to these questions lie in the fact that organizational budgets for new projects are typically very tight and, as such, your project will be competing against other projects for funding. Without a written business case, more...

Writing a Business Case Which would you rather do: prepare a business case for your latest project or go to the dentist? Given the choice, many of us would tend to choose the latter.Whether you want to invest in product development or reinvent your business processes with new marketing channels, it is now more important than ever to have a business case that is carefully planned, written, and presented, especially when more...

The Process of Interpersonal Communications It is almost impossible to be productive in today's business environment without being an effective communicator. This is particularly true if achievement of your goals depends on your ability to influence others. You need to be able to communicate your ideas, instructions, thoughts, and feelings accurately. This is not as easy as it may seem, and ineffective communication is often at the core of more...

Virtual Team Management Developing Virtual Teams In Virtual Team Management: Developing Virtual Teams, you will learn about the nature of virtual teams, including the characteristics and types of virtual teams. You will also learn what needs virtual team members have, as well as the types of technology virtual teams use to communicate. In addition, you will learn how virtual teams can overcome trust and communication barriers, as well as how to more...

Assertiveness from the Inside Out Do you sometimes wonder if there's a way to alter your professional style--to change yourself from the inside out? Do you want to develop your professional assertive style? Do you want to learn about strategies that can help you interact assertively with others in the workplace? Are you placed in situations where assertive negotiations are needed? Now is a good time to enhance your professional more...

Virtual Team Management Managing Virtual Team Relationships In Virtual Team Management: Managing Virtual Team Relationships, you will learn how to be an effective virtual team manager. You will learn the seven functions that virtual team managers must perform and the four factors that can hamper a virtual team manager's success. In addition, you will learn about the importance of boundary management and how virtual team managers can be effective boundary more...

Cultivating Great Teams Inspire Team Success This course describes motivational strategies to help your team reach their performance goals. All levels of professionals who supervise the performance of other staff members. more...

Talent Management Knowing Talent This course explains what talent is and how it differs from skills and knowledge. It also introduces the process of talent management and compares this process with traditional processes. Finally, it covers the importance of recognizing and retaining talent. This course is for HR professionals and managers within a company responsible for managing and developing employees. more...

Organizational Behavior Organizational Dynamics for Individuals Organizational Behavior: Organizational Dynamics for Individuals defines organizational behavior and identifies the variables and characteristics that influence an individual's behavior in the workplace. Managers, supervisors, team members, and anyone who is interested in improving the behavior variables within their organization. more...

Organizational Behavior The Organizational System Organizational Behavior: The Organizational System defines organizational structure and culture and explains their impact on employees. It also teaches how to perform a job analysis to determine whether an organization's job designs are appropriate and gives options for job redesign. Managers, supervisors, team members, and anyone who is interested in improving the behavior variables within their more...

Developing Career Plans for Your Technical Professionals Why should you be interested in career development for the technical professionals you supervise? Because it's good for them, good for your company, and good for you. One of your major challenges as a manager of technical people is retaining them. And you may also need to recruit technical people to fill higher-level positions in your company. This course will help you use career development as a more...

Management Development for Technical Professionals ...he traits and skills you currently possess. Then you will determine which skills need enhancement and which skills require development. Various avenues for development will be presented ranging from on-line personality inventories to classes in the development of management skills. With this preparation, you will create an action plan to realize your development program. Next, you will create more...

Process Management Skills Efficiency, in software terms, can be the difference between ineffective, poorly designed software, and elegant, intuitive software. Efficiency in manufacturing is the difference between processes that yield top quality products at a reasonable price, and processes that spit out shoddy products regardless of price. Likewise, efficiency is critical to the effectiveness of a manager and to the more...

e-Mentoring Rapid changes in the way organizations look and do business have generated a new business tool: e-Mentoring. Here's an opportunity to examine the challenges and advantages of e-Mentoring and explore how to adapt communication skills to electronic media. Learn how to grow and manage e-Mentoring relationships by effectively selecting and matching e-Mentors and proteges, developing trust, using more...

Becoming a Manager What does becoming a manager involve? What skills are needed to be a good one, and what will others expect of you? These are all natural questions for anyone who is about to become a manager, or who has recently been promoted. Moving into a first management role represents possibly one of the biggest changes in your working life. The transition from player to manager is an exciting, but more...

A New Manager s Responsibilities and Fears Promotion to management is obviously welcome and something to celebrate, but when the initial excitement is over, you may begin to wonder about your new responsibilities. Your main focus is now on managing the activities of others and ensuring that the company's resources are used effectively. Apprehensions about whether you are able to do the job are natural--it merely indicates a healthy respect more...

Lead and Communicate Effectively as a New Manager Employees want decisive leadership from their managers. Organizations, too, need their managers to be clear about their objectives, and how their teams can achieve them. As a new manager, it is important that you understand that leadership is about giving direction, but it is also crucial that you realize that it also involves trusting and empowering your staff. You will undoubtedly have been very more...

A New Manager s Role in the Company s Future Perhaps one of the most exciting and challenging changes that comes with moving into a management role is the need to take a more strategic view of the work you are doing. You need to develop a greater awareness of how your own work, and the work of those in your department, fits with the strategic vision of the company. You will also need to have a greater understanding of the impact that the more...

Coaching for Business Coaching is a vital component of any business that aims to be a winner in the new economy. However, unless coaches are clear in their own minds exactly what their function is, and why they are performing a coaching role, they may do more harm than good. Therefore, it is important to understand how coaching originated as a business tool, and the ways it impacted traditional managerial attitudes and more...

Leading Change from the Front Line Have you ever wanted something at work to change, but no one ever addressed the issue, so you just put up with it? Maybe you didn't bring it up because you thought you were the only person who didn't like it. Maybe you didn't want to make a fool of yourself by making it an issue. Or maybe you thought your boss would be irritated if you mentioned it. If any of this sounds familiar, this course is more...

Dynamics of Leadership Can anyone, regardless of company status, be a leader? Yes Leaders can be found at all levels in the work force. When you're learning how to lead, is it possible also to be responsible for discovering new future leaders? You bet it is. Even though you aren't in management, do you have the power to influence someone to change his behavior? Again, the answer is yes. In this course, you'll learn how more...

Succession Planning Strategies