Technology Training has Far-Reaching Implications
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Source: CPA Practice Management Forum The article was written by Roman Kepczyki, president of InfoTech Partners North America (www.itpna.com). It takes two to six times longer for an untrained employee to learn a skill than for one who is trained. IT personnel spend 50 percent to 80 percent of their time solving problems caused by unfamiliarity with technology. The remedy is for firms to hire learning officers. Firms with more than 50 people need full-time learning officers. In a smaller firm, the role can be filled by an administrative person devoting 16 to 20 hours a week to the role. This person should understand technology and have good communication skills—the latter being more important than the former. The learning officer should understand the firm’s processes and the relevant best practices. Those most knowledgeable about the processes should document and standardize them. The learning officer should prepare a list of all applications, including the go-to people for each software application, links to Web sites that offer support, and maintenance contact information. Training should include using time and billing systems, e-mail, and Microsoft Office. The learning officer should also investigate Web-based and computerized training programs and make them known to the staff. Firms should send key people to vendor users’ training, association meetings, and industry technical conferences. From CPA Practice Management Forum, June 2005, p. 8. |