250,000 Email Business Directory/250,000 Email Business Directory.iso/msie/cd/win95/webpages/mspage/ms_offic/learn~1.doc

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Microsoft® Office
White Paper
                                                             for Windows® 95
Learning Microsoft Office for Windows 95

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A MASIE Center Whitepaper
Elliott Masie and Pearl Louie

Executive Summary

This paper summarizes the Microsoft Office for Windows 95 Learning Analysis
conducted by The MASIE Center.  The purpose of the Learning Analysis is to
address the following migration issues:

ΓÇó Review the Microsoft Office for Windows 95's User Interface from a
  learnerΓÇÖs perspective.
ΓÇó Estimate learning efforts required for both new and migrating users of
  Microsoft Office for Windows 95.
ΓÇó Analyze learning and training tools incorporated in Microsoft Office for
  Windows 95.
ΓÇó Identify successful learning strategies for organizational adoption of
  Microsoft Office for Windows 95.

This MASIE Center's Learning Analysis is based on an expert review of the
product and interviews with over 40 training professionals who have
participated in the Office for Windows 95 Beta program.


Overview

Microsoft Office for Windows 95 is a "next-generation" business
productivity application that has been developed with the learner in mind.
Product improvements designed to make the products easier to use and learn
are clearly evident throughout the product.  The current Microsoft Office
user has an easy migration path to Microsoft Office for Windows 95.  Even
new users of these integrated desktop applications will be able to quickly
improve their productivity with a minimal level of learning and training
investment.  Specifically:

ΓÇó The integrated user interface of Office 95 will allow users to transfer
  existing application knowledge and utilize product knowledge to learn new
  applications.  The MASIE Center estimates:
  ΓÇó Current Office 4.3 users will require approximately 2 hours of self-
    discovery to learn the new features of Office 95.
  ΓÇó Competitive application users will require about 6 hours of self-
    discovery or hands on training to learn Office 95.

ΓÇó The new on-line help model, with its natural language processing will
  allow users to solve their own problems in their own words.
ΓÇó A series of interface and navigational enhancements like screen tips and
  right mouse clicks will help Office users discover and use more of the
  features of Office 95.
ΓÇó Organizations that use Office 95 applications to build custom solutions
  will reduce training requirements needed to implement those business
  solutions.

Office 95 from the learnerΓÇÖs perspective

Migration to Microsoft Office for Windows 95 will not require a mandatory
trip to the classroom and most users will be able to make the switch with a
minimal briefing and "at your desk" self-discovery learning.  The tightly
integrated user interface of Office for Windows 95 allows users to transfer
their existing knowledge of previous versions of MS Office applications.
This will also allow users to leverage product knowledge of one application
throughout the entire suite.


The MASIE Center's analysis of this user interface revealed:

The interface consistencies between Windows 95 and Office for Windows 95
(i.e. tabbed dialogs, screen tips, right mouse clicks, shortcuts) will
reinforce learning of both the operating system and applications in the new
environment.  Users that have already become familiar with Windows 95 will
be fully comfortable with the format and structure of the Office 95 user
interface.  New users of Windows 95, will be able to learn the operating
system interface more quickly using Microsoft Office for Windows 95 as a
familiarization environment.

In general, current Office 4.x users will be able to quickly self-learn the
core features and functionality of these applications within Microsoft
Office for Windows 95.  For example, a user of Microsoft Word 6.0 or
Microsoft PowerPoint 4.0 will be able to immediately produce and edit
documents using the new Windows 95 versions.  They will be able to learn
the new features and functionality of these applications without an
extended trip to a classroom or a loss in daily productivity.

The MASIE Center believes the training time for a new user to learn the
initial application within the suite will be the same, the incremental
training time for additional applications within the suite will be less.
In other words, as a user learns Word through attendance at a class or
technology delivered instruction, or even self-discovery, their personal
learning curve shortens for each additional application within Microsoft
Office for Windows 95.  For example, the tools and navigational strategies
they learned in Word allow them to master Excel or PowerPoint in a rapid
and less costly fashion.

For the first time, the focus of instructor led training can now begin to
shift from "Press This Key and Then Press Enter" instructions, to
presenting strategies for accomplishing specific work tasks, using multiple
tools within the suite.  An instructor can redesign training offerings for
Microsoft Office for Windows 95 with new titles like: Preparing Executive
Presentations, which will teach workers to use Office 95 as a specific
productivity tool for their work environment.  In addition, training
departments will be able to customize offerings to more closely match the
business needs and processes of specific departments.


Users of Microsoft Office for Windows 95 will be able to discover and use
the functionality of the product through a series of product enhancements
including:

ΓÇó Screen Tips - on screen prompts and information displays that describe
  the functionality of toolbar buttons and icons.
ΓÇó Tip Wizards - tips that give users suggestions on how to use their
  software to complete their work.
ΓÇó Answer Wizard - a natural language on-line help feature that allows users
  to ask for help in their own words. Users can now learn the products as
  they need to use them.
ΓÇó Task Wizards - Office 95 features new Wizards that walk users through the
  steps needed to accomplish complex tasks.  MASIE Center research indicates
  that the ability to perform a new task with a shorter "cycle time" to
  productivity increases the likelihood that the feature will be used.  In
  other words, a person that needs to learn how to schedule a meeting using
  Schedule+ may avoid even trying, if they believe it will take time to
  learn it.  However, if they can immediately begin, using real data and
  accomplish the task, it dramatically improves the likelihood of use.


Office 95 migration learning efforts

The MASIE Center's Learning Analysis provides a broad estimate of the
training efforts required to bring users to a base level of competency for
Microsoft Office for Windows 95.  In addition to the Office 95 training,
users will need between 1-3 hours of classroom and self-discovery training
to become comfortable with Windows 95.  These estimates will vary based on
the specific backgrounds experience level, and preferences of the learners
as well as the organizations targeted outcome competencies.

|Type of User    |Type of training|Total Hours|
|                                            |
|Office 4.3 user |Initial         |3          |
|                |briefing/demo   |           |
|                |(1hr)           |           |
|                |Self-discovery  |           |
|                |(2hr)           |           |
|Competitive     |Initial         |6          |
|suite user      |briefing/demo   |           |
|                |(1hr)           |           |
|                |Classroom/struct|           |
|                |ured (5hr)      |           |
|New application |Initial         |21         |
|user            |briefing/demo   |           |
|                |(1hr)           |           |
|                |Classroom/struct|           |
|                |ured (12 hr)    |           |
|                |Self-discovery  |           |
|                |(8 hr)          |           |

Let's put these estimates into perspective using a series of case studies
of typical users:


Current User

Brian is a current Microsoft Office 4.x user who primarily uses Word and
Excel.  When his organization migrates to Microsoft Office for Windows 95,
BrianΓÇÖs probable learning plan could be:

ΓÇó Attend a Windows 95 Briefing (1 hour meeting) to see a demonstration and
  learn the corporate strategy for using this new operating system.
ΓÇó Complete a 1-2 hours of self-discovery using Windows 95.
ΓÇó Complete 2 hours of self-discovery with Word and Excel in Office 95 and
  take a self-guided tour of the new features within the suite.
ΓÇó Several weeks later, when his workgroup begins using Schedule+,  Brian
  will attend a short briefing and then explore the product at his desk.
ΓÇó When he needs to start using PowerPoint or Access, he may attend a 1/2
  day training session or teach it to himself, working with the supplied
  templates and wizards.

Competitive Suite User

Carol has considerable experience on a competitive desktop application
suite.  Carol wants to jump into the application and start building complex
marketing analysis tools.

ΓÇó Carol will spend several hours touring Microsoft Office for Windows 95,
  exploring the various nooks and crannies, and importing her old data into
  the new suite.
ΓÇó Carol will attend a 2 hour session called Migrating to Microsoft Office
  for Windows 95 for Power Users.  This interactive session will give her
  the tips and tricks that she wants to quickly master this application.
ΓÇó As an alternative, the meeting notes and/or a conversation with a
  Microsoft Office for Windows 95 expert in the MIS area will be a viable
  alternative.

New Hire

Lisa is a new hire and will be using her first set of desktop applications.

Lisa will attend a one day class entitled Working Electronically at Acme
Products. The class will explain how to use her PC, introduce her to
Windows 95 and provide her a Quick Start Overview on Microsoft Office for
Windows 95.  The focus of the overview would be on creating several basic
documents and communicating with co-workers throughout the organization.

Lisa's manager may choose to send her to advanced classes in specific
products or she may be provided with custom solutions that allow her to
file expense reports, schedule meetings and create purchase orders, without
launching specific applications.

In each of these scenarios, the user was able to get up and running quickly
without an extended visit to a training classroom.  The MASIE Center
Learning Analysis of Microsoft Office for Windows 95 indicates it is a
"learning-friendly" product, that will allow users to quick become
productive.

We do believe that advanced users, developing complex applications and
integrating third party products into Microsoft Office for Windows 95 will
require additional learning and/or training.  However, this product has
broken the tradition that a software revision requires a mandatory
expenditure on classroom learning.


Successful learning strategies

Our estimates of probable learning times and events for Microsoft Office
for Windows 95 reveal The MASIE Center's perspective on the high impact
training has on organizational migrations.  The current rate of technology
change requires a dramatic shift in how organizations develop technical
competence in the workforce. The unit of focus for the user is now the
document that they want to create, edit, mail, send or fax.  By focusing on
the document, and allowing the program to supply the appropriate tools, the
user has less distraction to their work process.  Microsoft Office for
Windows 95 is an ideal product to lead that shift.


Our research indicates that workers want to learn in a very personal
fashion.  They want:

ΓÇó Just In Time Learning: "I want to learn how to create a PowerPoint
  presentation the day that I actually need one."
ΓÇó Just Enough Learning: "Don't load me up with all this information.  Just
  give me enough to get started."
ΓÇó Reasons for Learning: "Tell me why you are changing my word processor.
  The old one was great, why do we need a new one?"
ΓÇó Resources for Continuous Learning: "I'd like to be able to learn a few
  things every week."

There is widespread reluctance for current computer users to make frequent
trips to the corporate training room, and that reluctance is echoed in the
hearts of their managers and in the size of the training budgets.

Microsoft Office for Windows 95 provides organizations an opportunity to
meet usersΓÇÖ learning preferences with a lower-cost and quicker
alternatives.


Briefings

Assemble groups of employees, from a small team during a weekly staff
meeting to hundreds in the corporate auditorium.  In 30 to 60 minutes,
provide them with:

ΓÇó A quick demonstration of Windows 95 and Office 95, focusing on new
  features, familiarity of the user interface and key productivity tools.
ΓÇó Corporate rationale for choosing Microsoft Office for Windows 95 and
  highlight enterprise wide benefits.
ΓÇó Lists of learning options, ranging from self-discovery to classes, in
  order to launch learners down the path to product competency.
ΓÇó Detail corporate support strategy.
ΓÇó Build workforce excitement and motivation for migrating to Microsoft
  Office for Windows 95.


Self-Study

Learners will be choosing self-study in large numbers as they migrate to
Microsoft Office for Windows 95.  There will be several types of self-
study:

ΓÇó Self-Discovery: Confident learners will explore the product, take the
  embedded tutorials and use other books and resources to teach the product
  to themselves.
ΓÇó Technology Delivered Learning:  There will be a wide range of technology
  products to deliver multi-media learning right to the desktop for
  Microsoft Office for Windows 95.  These will include structured tutorials
  to media clips from experts explaining aspects of the product.
ΓÇó Brown Bag Clinics:  Learners love to gather with other learners to share
  tips and tricks.  Several weeks after organizations launch Microsoft
  Office for Windows 95 there will be an opportunity to sponsor 1 hour
  sessions in the workplace with a power user or Help Desk staff to
  facilitate knowledge sharing and answer specific questions.  This is a
  great way to off-load support burden from the help desk during the
  migration period.
ΓÇó Seminars and Classes:  Organizations can present, or contract with third
  party training centers to conduct four basic types of learning events:
ΓÇó Introduction to Microsoft Office for Windows 95
ΓÇó Migrating to Microsoft Office for Windows 95 from a Competitive Suite
ΓÇó Application Specific Classes (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
ΓÇó Productivity Classes: (e.g. Creating Effective Marketing Plans)


Conclusion:

The MASIE Center's Learning Analysis of Microsoft Office for Windows 95
reveals a product that is "learning-enabled".  We believe that Microsoft
Office for Windows 95 is part of a new generation of products that will
enable workers to focus on work and not be overwhelmed or distracted by the
need for long-duration learning events.

Organizations migrating to Microsoft Office for Windows 95 should develop
comprehensive learning strategies to direct the workforce to the
appropriate methods of mastering these new products.  Learning should be
strategic!  Microsoft Office for Windows 95 is an ideal opportunity to
create a new model for delivering new technology and skills to the
workforce in a cost-effective and work-focused method.

Organizations will need to also focus their learning on making their
workforce more network oriented.  The networking and collaborative tools
embedded in Microsoft Office for Windows 95 can be harnessed to teach
workers and business units new methods of sharing information and utilizing
technology for effective collaboration.

One final thought.  Learning is personal!  People have strong feelings
about how they want to learn and what they think they need to have in order
to learn.  Training managers and information professionals should carefully
listen to the preferences of their workforce and leverage the power of
Microsoft Office for Windows 95 to provide the type of learning that will
work!

The MASIE Center is a technology think tank located in Cambridge, MA.  The
Center explores the relationship between new technology and learning
methods.  Briefingware,  Learning Analysis and Continuous Learning are
trademarks of The MASIE Center.  The Center conducts research and provides
services to technology providers and corporate training departments
throughout the world.

The MASIE Center, in conjunction with Cue Education & Training, has created
BriefingWare Kits.  These are complete meetings-in-a-box, which contain
videos, PowerPoint Demos and Getting Started Brochures in electronic format
to present a Microsoft Office for Windows 95 Briefing.

Contact:
The MASIE Center, Inc.
75 Cambridge Parkway, Suite PH3
Cambridge, MA 02142

Phone: 800-98-MASIE or 617-252-0845

Fax: [phone]   Email: [e-mail]

                                  #########
( 1995 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
The information contained in this document represents the current view of
Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of
publication. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions,
it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft,
and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented
after the date of publication.
This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO
WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS DOCUMENT.
Microsoft, Windows, IntelliSense, TipWizard, PivotTable, PowerPoint, Visual
Basic, and the Office Compatible logo are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Microsoft in the United States and/or other countries.