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Educating users can be a daunting task. Many people have the unfounded fear of technology that I wrote about in the first chapter and believe it or not, it reflects in the quality and efficiency of their daily job.

In many instances, the IT staff may not have sufficient time or patience to teach users the basics of computers. Some companies, however, use some sort of computer drivers license that every employee is required to obtain. This certificate validates the basic knowledge that is expected from every employee to properly function and maintain their tools.

For each company, the requirements may be different. It is therefore best to set up a classification course, maybe even with some small incentives for completing 'advanced' courses. I say this since there are many users that do not want to go through the 'hassle' of acquiring the skills they need to be better at their job. Small incentives, such as a recurring monthly bonus or salary increase may be well worth it. Give your employees $25 per month extra if and when they complete any advanced courses that you have outlined.

In many cases, companies use an expiry date or they link passing 'the exam' to the annual review. This way, users are encouraged to stay up-to-date.

There are a number of websites that can assist in testing employees and outlining courses that can be taken. A good one that I have used in the past is www.brainbench.com.

Using a website such as BrainBench, in combination with your own rules and regulations, will make sure that your employees are knowledgeable and efficient, allowing you and your IT staff to focus on more important things.