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Firm University
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Lessons Learned from firm universities
to finish that work as well as the next steps they
were required to do. Afterwards, we have users
requesting classes for any of the tasks they didn't
know how to do.
• Game show Lunch-n-Learns based on
"Jeopardy," "Who Wants to be a Millionaire,"
"Password" and "Pyramid."
In our Pyramid game show we had our HR managers
dress up as the celebrities, and we gave it a theme
called "Fun in the Sun."
• Topic-specific Technical Bytes Lunch-n-Learns in a
training room over brown bags or firm-supplied
lunches with guest speakers including network
experts and attorneys. ILta
gettIng resULts
You don't have to be a big firm to use
the firm university concept. One small
firm has good success with just a simple
monthly calendar. The classes are
planned based on helpdesk calls and
trends the trainer notices the previous
month. Classes are very short, no more
than 30 minutes, and cover only two
or three specific tasks. The trainer also
selects "off" times; she starts afternoon
classes at 1:15 p.m. That gives learners
a chance to get back from lunch and
catch up on any voicemail or e-mail
messages; but it is not so much time
that attendees get involved in a work
project. A firm university could be the
solution any firm needs to achieve its
strategic training goals. Whether the goal
is providing employees with the skills and
knowledge they need to help the firm
succeed, or creating a training program
that ensures everyone is on the same
page, firm universities continue to make a
difference. ILta
