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Customer Support And The Use Of Web-Based Learning Management Systems

July 5, 2011 By cbkidscl Leave a Comment

Article by Erwin Pope

In many respects, e-learning has matured as a technology and industry. Today we will look at how web-based learning management systems can and are being used as part of the customer support function in a company or organization.

What is a learning management system?

Learning management systems (LMSs) are web-based software application platforms used to plan, implement, and assess learning processes related to online and offline training administration and performance management. LMSs provide an instructor a way in which to create and deliver content, monitor learners’ participation, and assess student performance. They also provide learners with the ability to use interactive features such as threaded discussions, web conferencing, discussion forums, and other methods of communication.

Where and why are learning management systems being used in customer support settings?

LMSs are being used in business-to-business, high process, value added, and technology-oriented business environments in industries like telecommunications, advanced electronic technology, semiconductor manufacturing, insurance, banking, medical products manufacturing, and others. Learning management systems are being used in customer support settings because they can be a cost-effective solution to providing customer and performance support for a company’s products and services.

Why is it cost-effective to use an LMS for your company’s customer support operation?

Learning management systems can be used to create a library of custom online courses that demonstrate how to use your company’s products and services. The course can be updated at will, so you’re not paying every three months to print new product guides and support manuals.

LMSs can be used to track and monitor your customers, instead of using a bunch of spreadsheets. This is very effective in scenarios where customers must be certified in order to use your products and services. The learning management system can be set up to notify a user when their certification is set to expire using an email tickler so they can recertify on your product.

What other features in learning management systems can be used for the customer support function?

A good LMS comes with a help desk feature that can be used for 24/7 customer support. Learning management systems can have integrated web conferencing technology which can be used in a number of ways to support customers such as synchronous training used in product implementation; a web conference on a new feature set that can be archived for later viewing; actual, on-the-spot tech-support using the “share your desktop” feature so your tech can go in and fix any problems necessary; and more.

LMSs can have a built in survey tool that allows you to query your customers with the results stored in the learning management systems database for later use. Learning management systems can have a single sign-on/e-commerce registration feature that can be used to sell add-on features. They also may have events management/seminar logistics add-on application that can help you manage both your off-site and onsite customer support training, and much more.

A company can realize effective resource planning and substantial cost savings by using learning management systems in customer support settings. Even greater gains in productivity and cost savings can be achieved using a learning management system in hosted business model environment. The virtual customer support campus is created to have the same look and feel as the company’s web site. Since the customer support campus is hosted and maintained on the learning management systems providers’ servers, the company only pays for set-up, its level of desired functionality, and usage. In conclusion, web-based learning management systems can be a very useful, cost effective way to manage a company’s customer support function.

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Learn to Manage Your Time in Order to Manage Your Stress

July 5, 2011 By cbkidscl Leave a Comment

 Unfortunately, constantly having a lot of things to do simultaneously is a part of modern life. A lot of people constantly feel stressed, and try to find ways to deal with their stress. But that is actually starting at the wrong end of the problem. What you should do instead, is to learn how to manage your time through clever strategies for time management, since this will also make it easier for you to manage your stress, and you might never even be so stressed that you need to use any stress management techniques!

If you want to learn how to manage your time, the first thing you need to start doing, right away, is to make lists of the things you need to do. Write down everything, even if it is domestic tasks or things you want to do for fun, or things you feel like you should do, but don’t have the time for, and so on.

The second thing you want to do is to prioritize all the task. Which task is the most important? Which tasks can wait, if necessary? Make a new list of all the things you need/want to do, but this time in order of priority.

You may want to consider making these lists divided by week, month and year, so that you have both short term and long term goals and tasks written down somewhere.
Once you have the lists ready, it will be easy to check back on the list and see what needs to be done, at all times. This means you don’t have to think about what to do next, and make decisions that will make you feel bad or even more stressed, you can simply stick to the list!

Another good way to manage your time is to learn to multitask. This is of course not possible for everyone, at all times, but those who can multitask, should definitely try to do it. If multitasking is not possible for you, however, make it a rule that you always finish one task before you start with the next one. This makes it easier to concentrate, which will make you more productive, and the task will also be done faster.

Last but not least, you also need to learn how to say no. This is really hard for a lot of people to do, since we see it as something negative, but once you know how to do it, it really saves you a lot of time, and makes you more effective. Not having all sorts of unimportant commitments to worry about also makes you less stressed, so see this exercise as an important step towards learning to manage your stress, and just do it the next time someone asks you to do something that is not completely necessary! 

Written by JoJoGal

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How an After School Job Teaches Money Management to Teens

July 5, 2011 By cbkidscl Leave a Comment

Does the following sound familiar – “Let’s go shopping! I’ve got Daddy’s credit card, so I’ll never run out of money.” This is the attitude teens usually take towards money, but one of the best ways to teach your teen about money management is with an after school job.

Though many parents are skeptical, after school jobs do not have to interfere a teen’s studies. Working for just a few hours in the afternoons or even on weekends will be enough to teach teens a valuable lesson on how to manage their finances.

Hard Work Pays Off

Many teens expect to be paid just for gracing your presence. After all, they are invincible, or so they believe. However, when working an after school job, you are only paid based on what you do. The harder you work and the more responsible you are, the more you will be paid. Teens learn this lesson quickly if they truly want to earn money. This leads to the next reason after school jobs teach teens money management.

Want and Need

Teens sometimes have a hard time understanding the difference between want and need. Parents often hear that teens need to go the movies, or they need those pair of jeans because their best friend just got a pair. However, these are just wants. When a teen is forced to spend their own hard earned money, they learn the difference between want and need.

When a teen makes around 0 a week, it doesn’t take long for them to realize that money doesn’t go far. Teens will quickly learn that the pair of jeans is just a wonderful as the pair. Instead of wasting money, teens will learn to choose between want and need and save accordingly.

No More Spending Sprees

When your money is limited, you are forced to spend less. Teens working after school jobs learn how to save their money in order to buy the things they desire. After all, an employer is not going to give you a little extra cash because you spent all your money on Monday, but you don’t get paid until Friday. This is a lesson teens learn quickly. When teens learn to make their money last, they are truly beginning to understand money management.

Value What You Earn

When a teen has to buy their own things and pay their own way, they value things and the experiences more. They have worked hard to earn their money and have better respect for how the things they decide to spend the money on. For instance, a teen that purchases clothes or even a car for themselves will tend to take better care of it.

By valuing their purchases, teens learn to better manage their money so they can purchase better things and go out more.

After school jobs provide teens with numerous lessons, one of the most important is learning to manage money. The sooner teens learn to manage money the better they will be at managing finances as an adult.

Written by CDCrowder

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