The Generation Company (GenCo) of Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) is working to recreate its training program using WIDS Software – making for a standard approach to learner-focused training companywide. More than 80 qualification guides, each of which contains numerous modules targeted to the mastery of specific occupational competencies, will ultimately be developed using WIDS.
As employees complete a qualification guide, they are qualified for present or future roles within the company. A plant operator, for example, might need to qualify on 10-20 modules within their qualification guide. By using WIDS, GenCo Training Consultant Mike Malone maintains the company benefits in a number of ways, including a simplified training development process, a more standard approach to training and improved efficiency. He points out that thanks to WIDS, content is never lost. No matter who conducts the training – a new or veteran instructor – learners achieve the same competencies. Those competencies are determined via DACUM job analyses that identify required skills for a particular occupation.
“To date, we’ve accomplished four DACUMs,” says Malone. “We use the process to identify duties, tasks and knowledge needed in an occupation and use the results to begin training development.”
Why WIDS?
After researching a variety of software products, GenCo embraced WIDS. “It has a very good educational theory basis and templates and samples that are great,” he says. “WIDS helped us standardize how we develop training and what the format of the qualification guide would look like.” Moreover, the Software takes DACUM data and helps users develop training around DACUM skills and competencies – a big timesaver, according to Malone. In order to be as forward thinking as possible, Malone maintains GenCo will also ensure state apprenticeship standards are linked to competencies within each craft qualification guide to ensure appropriate technical standards are incorporated.
At the culmination of each training module, employees are assessed on knowledge and skills via written exams, he adds.
Prior to WIDS, the company struggled for training structure. “As we were developing qualification guides, we were using MS Word and Excel to develop our training materials and conduct various analysis functions,” says Malone. “We had developed a standard template and process to develop those materials, but we needed to make the process more streamlined and efficient. And we needed a structured training development process to follow so we could concentrate more on content of the material instead of the method.”
Mandating WIDS Use
In order to accomplish the training program revision, GenCo has contracted with outside consultants to assist with training development projects. Nonetheless, the company mandates that those consultants use WIDS. “They are required to use WIDS to maintain the training standard we have adopted here,” says Malone. “The vision is that all present and future training materials seen, used and developed, look the same to trainees and trainers. WIDS sets the standard.”
WPS provides electricity and natural gas to nearly 425,000 electric and 308,000 natural gas customers within an 11,000-square-mile, 20-county service territory, including a large portion of northeast and central Wisconsin and a small part of upper Michigan.