Micro Training Associates, located in Canton, CT, just outside of Hartford, is a custom instructional design firm offering assistance with the development of all forms of training, including e-learning, classroom and blended solutions. Our team of seasoned consultants has special expertise with the development of training for the communications and financial services industries, especially in the areas of customer service, sales, product, end user and supervisory/management training. Micro Training Associates has been providing blue chip custom training development services for blue chip companies since 1983, and has achieved an exceptional record for on time project completion under the most demanding project conditions.

Success Factors

Every project presents unique challenges but there are some common factors that contribute to success:

Knowledgeable Team Members and Limited Development Team Size		The right number of people with the right skills and the time. Includes project managers, subject matter experts, and end-user representatives. The fewer people you have with requisite skills, the more control you have.
Clear Roles, Responsibilities and Accountabilities		Define roles and expectations. Put someone in charge. Identify the decision-making process - when you need to be involved and when you don't.
Structured Development Process		The establishment and the use of a structured development process, including clear role definitions, steps, quality control points, and evaluation criteria.
Standards		Establishing, communicating, building commitment to, and enforcing standards provides control.
Understanding and Consciously Making Trade-Offs		Trade-offs include: Power vs. simplicity Structure vs. freedom Productivity vs. creativity
Project Scope and Complexity		Big failures result from biting off more than you can chew. Limiting the project's size and complexity from a perspective of structure, content, or learning objectives can dramatically increase control.
Realistic Expectations		A project is doomed if oversold on outcome, cost, schedule, resource effectiveness, ease of implementation, etc. When all players involved have reality-based expectations, there are few disappointments.



	While our short time frame and volume of work seemed insurmountable, the Micro Training team was never daunted by the challenge. They are accurate and attentive to details. They also work well with others and encourage a team atmosphere. They genuinely care about others but never lose their sense of professionalism. I highly recommend them for your training project. Micro Training Associates is second to none!

	Training Project Manager Telecommunications Company

Instructional Design Tip

Baffled by what colors to use in your multimedia program? If the program incorporates a creative theme, take a cue from the colors it suggests.