INTERPERSONAL:

Course
ED 795A

Ariticact: Initial anaysis for the AELN

Project Description
During the Fall 2008 session, I was enrolled in my first of the two EDTEC core courses, ED 795A. I was assigned to work for the American Express Learning Network (AELN), the internal training department for American Express. The AELN was currently in the midst of transforming their whole ISD model and processes. The project they submitted to our class and that I subsequently took on was to analyze their internal process for dealing with initial training requests, research the best ways to provide training to their members using extant literature and data, and create a matrix to assist with matching training requests with the most appropriate training delivery methods.

EDTEC Standard
I worked as an external client for the AELN, and spent over 80 hours completing the deliverables for this course. I worked closely with my AELN points of contact on the project, conducting weekly status meetings, reviewing internal documents and presentations, and discussing their processes on dealing with internal training requests. I also conducted interviews with AELN instructional designers and managers to gather as much information as I could to assist me in providing the best deliverables possible.

Problems or Opportunities
There were quite a few obstacles that I encountered during this course. First and foremost, with only the three courses of summer under my belt, I was now an actual consultant for a real client, in the real world. I was providing advice and information to people who have actually been in the instructional design field for years, which I initially found to be quite a daunting obstacle. In addition, another major obstacle that I encountered was that working with this client was all done remotely. One of my points of contact was located in Salt Lake City, and the secondary member was located in Greensboro. However, we overcame our obstacles by coordinating our schedules so that we could have weekly phone conference status update meetings, so that I could keep them informed on my progress. Another problem I encountered (which many of my classmates encountered as well) was significant scope creep during the course of the project. My clients kept wanting a little bit more each and every week, and once we would agree on something, by the next week they would change what they would like to see added to the project. However, after the initial frustration I felt, I looked at this as an opportunity to see and experience firsthand how things really are in the real world. I truly began to understand that what a client initial asks for may not be what they really want or need. Often, they really do not know what they want, and it is the client’s job to provide them with a product that adds value to their organization.

My Capabilities
I have always been able to work well with others, and my interpersonal skills were definitely put to task during the course of the semester. I effectively dealt with my clients’ proposed changes and desires, taking everything in stride. I also valued the feedback that I received from my clients, which made our working relationship that much better because they knew that my primary desire was to provide them with the best end product that I could, and that I was always open to their feedback and desired changes with the project.

Lessons Learned
I really learned a lot about how it will be in the real world as a consultant for a client. I also improved my interview skills, learning the right questions to ask in order to get the information that you need to assist in project completion. I know that the experiences that I encountered during this class will serve me well in my future career.