Industry News and Notes

Training Retention Still Low

 “Current research clearly documents that in as little as three weeks following a training event, an employee’s ability to recall and apply new knowledge or skills is less than 20 percent. Stated differently, employees will lose more than 80 percent of the information they were provided in a training program,” according to a white paper by LearningGuide Solutions. Greg Driscoll, LearningGuide president said, “The primary reason why training programs fall short in reaching their intended goal is that employees struggle to retain newly acquired information over an extended period of time.”

According to the white paper, “Ensuring Project Success: Building a Business Case for Performance Solutions,” only 53 percent of the employees surveyed were satisfied with their companies’ training and support systems, due to information overload. The paper also addresses how performance support would have an impact on employee productivity and knowledge, resulting in tangible business results.

“Companies must rethink their approach to training, learning and performance,” Driscoll said. “Performance support is a critical part of the learning process, as it can integrate and extend a company’s current training, information and knowledge assets.”

Airport Security: Don’t Unpack Your Laptop

The Transportation Security Administration has released new guidelines for laptop bags for luggage makers. Companies like Pathfinder and Targus are developing new laptop carriers that meet TSA standards which will allow laptop owners to send them through scanners without unpacking the computer!  For the full story on BNET, http://blogs.bnet.com/businesstips/?p=1680&tag=nl.e713.

Flying? Pay with Credit Card

Buying your next airline ticket with a credit card is highly recommended, according to a New York Times article. Why? Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, credit card companies are required to refund money for services never received—like tickets purchased on an airline that goes bankrupt. Not so with debit companies. If your airline goes belly-up, you join all other unsecured creditors—which is probably a long wait at the end of the tarmac.

For the full article, go to http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/business/22road.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Rent A Projector

Complaints about not having the budget to make impressive presentations? For $99 plus $30 shipping, you can rent a 2000-lumen projector for a day from www.Projector123.com. Rental of a 3000-lumen projector begins at $149. www.MeetingTomorrow.comalso rents projectors from 2500 to 30,000 lumens. Rental begins at $169 for the first day. www.RentQuick.comalso has projectors from $99 a day, but also offers rentals on overhead projectors, public address systems and laptops. Inexpensive projectors of course can always be purchased online or at technology superstores for as little as $400 which sometimes is a better option than buying one of those expensive video projector unit light bulbs.

Laptop Stand for Planes

Now there’s a laptop stand specifically for plane tray tables which allows you to recline while typing even if the seat in front of you is reclined. For $19.99, you can purchase the stand, which allows airflow for cooler computers, from www.Keynamics.com. The stand also comes apart and stores flat.