Part of the value of that lunchtime “value meal” is that a side of fries is included in the combo. VMC expert Galen Erickson talks about how the value proposition for User Acceptance Testing (UAT) also includes an opportunity to develop more efficient and effective training for new software or solutions.

A side benefit to performing UAT can be training cost savings. UAT basically provides a sneak-peek at what training is needed, so a training team can leverage what we learn in UAT and use it to refine their training strategies.

Rather than just simply testing existing tools or processes, UAT often introduces new features to users. Since users are exploring those features for the first time, they have the opportunity to stumble through the steps. If, in UAT, the non-prescriptive guidance documents we give to the users are unclear, or if certain sections need elaboration, the UAT team learns about it in the first few hours. We often modify the guidance documents based on that quick feedback.

The areas where UAT documentation is lacking is an indication of what needs to be changed or what needs to be stressed more in training. Sometimes at the end of UAT, a trainer takes our guidance document and develops training material from it. However, instead of writing a 100-page manual that covers everything evenly, the manual writer can save time and money writing a much more concise training guide that strategically glosses over things users don’t have issues with and focuses on the critical areas discovered during UAT.

In today’s economic climate, it’s more important than ever be able to recognize unexpected side benefits, seize them, and take advantage of them. What are you doing to make sure that golden opportunities aren’t slipping through your fingers?

Email Galen Erickson at GalenEr@vmc.com or call him at 877.393.8622.