Many managers question the value of appraisal programmes and many line managers believe appraisals are unduly time-consuming and bureaucratic. Yet the appraisal is a vital starting point when it comes to managing performance effectively and it is vital that managers appreciate this. Handled well, the benefits of formal appraisals are enormous. This thoroughly practical workshop has been designed to give line managers the knowledge, skills and confidence to deliver a well-structured appraisal - even in the most challenging circumstances. This course will help participants: Appreciate the benefits of the appraisal process Assess standards of performance objectively Plan and prepare for appraisals effectively Conduct a well-structured appraisal meeting Acquire the essential skills required for effective appraisals Improve their ability to discuss difficult issues more confidently Identify training and development requirements Agree clear and measurable development objectives Complete essential paperwork Understand the need to facilitate continual informal dialogue between appraisals 1 Introduction and course objectives 2 The appraisal process The aim of the appraisal process Understanding the bigger picture - the appraisal process as part of the employee development process The benefits of the appraisal process Common pitfalls Five steps to an effective performance appraisal 3 Step 1 - Assessment Using job standards as the basis for objective assessment Assessment of previous objectives 4 Step 2 - Preparation Documentation required Data on each appraisee Planning the meeting 5 Step 3 - The meeting The skills of appraisal interviewing The structure of the appraisal interview Dealing with poor performance and difficult situations Taking notes and completing documentation 6 Step 4 - Planning ahead and objective setting Identifying action to improve performance and enhance skills Establishing relevant training needs Agreeing SMART performance objectives Formulating a personal development plan 7 Step 5 - Action after the interview Essential paperwork Follow-up and action required between appraisal interviews Continuing informal dialogue 8 Video case study Bullets 9 Conclusion Course review / discussion Preparation of action plans for building on the skills learnt Close
SNMPc training course description A hands on course providing a solid foundation on network management using SolarWinds. The course specifically focusses on SolarWinds Orion Network Performance Monitor. The course starts with configuring agents and device discovery, onto exploiting SNMP with SolarWinds and then Alerts, reports and customisation of menus, views and maps. What will you learn Discover devices using Solarwinds. Use Solarwinds. Poll and monitor devices using Solarwinds. Create Alarms and reports. Diagnose faults using Solarwinds. SNMPc training course details Who will benefit: Technical staff working with Solarwinds. Prerequisites: None. Duration 2 days SNMPc training course content Getting started with SNMPc Manual discovery, automatic discovery, controlling IP discovery, mapping network devices. Hands on Using SNMPc. Agents Configuring Cisco devices for SNMP support, communities, traps, syslog. MIBs. Hands on Device discovery. Adding devices. Customising maps. Using SNMPc Polling, obtaining MIB information, MIB walking. Compiling MIBs. Hands on Monitoring devices. Groups. MIB walking. SNMP traps. Alarms Events and alarms, thresholds, event actions. Hands on Automatic alarms. Reports Creating reports, trend reports, customising reports. Hands on Performance reports. Graphs. Administration Users, customised views, backups, the database. Hands on Adding a user. Backups.
Earned Value Management: In-House Training: Virtual In-House Training Earned Value Management (EVM) incorporates a set of proven practices appropriate for project or program management methodologies. These include integration of program scope, schedule, and cost objectives, establishment of a baseline plan for accomplishment of program objectives and use of earned value techniques for performance measurement during the execution of a program. Earned Value Management (EVM) incorporates a set of proven practices appropriate for project or program management methodologies. These include integration of program scope, schedule, and cost objectives, establishment of a baseline plan for accomplishment of program objectives and use of earned value techniques for performance measurement during the execution of a program. EVM provides a solid platform for risk identification, corrective actions, and management re-planning as may be required over the life of a project or program. The course emphasis is on the latest EVM principles and concepts in accordance with changes and guidelines for Earned Value Management in The Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) and The Practice Standard for Earned Value Management published by the Project Management Institute. What you Will Learn You'll learn how to: Develop a project baseline, using an effective WBS Record actual project performance Calculate EVM measures Evaluate project performance based on EVM measures Respond to project variances Integrate EVM and risk management Determine how EVM will add value to your organization Develop an EVM implementation plan for your organization Getting Started Introductions Course structure Course goals and objectives Expectations Foundation Concepts Introduction to Earned Value Management (EVM) Benefits of EVM EVM Process Overview Applications of EVM Creating a Work Breakdown Structure Reviewing WBS concepts Reviewing WBS development process (decomposition) Using a WBS to support EVM Building a Project Baseline Defining a project baseline Developing a project baseline Using a project baseline Recording Actuals Recording actuals overview Collecting data for actual project performance Determining earned value - various methods EVM Performance Measures Using current status measures Using forecasting measures Analyzing EVM measures EVM and Risk Management Integrating EVM and Risk Management Using EVM measures in the risk register Exploring how EVM can facilitate reserves management Drawing down contingency reserves Responding to Variances Introduction to variances Process for responding to variances Response options Reporting Project Performance EVM reporting overview Meeting EVM reporting needs Addressing EVM reporting challenges Implementing an EVMS Defining EVMS requirements EVM for Agile projects Tailoring the EVMS Summary and Next Steps Review of content Review of objectives / expectations Personal action plan
SAFe® Lean Portfolio Management: In-House Training Create a culture of innovation, flexibility, and speed where all people in the portfolio can effectively execute as one unified team. In this course, you will gain the practical tools and techniques necessary to implement the Lean Portfolio Management functions of Strategy and Investment Funding, Agile Portfolio Operations, and Lean Governance. You will have the opportunity to capture the current and future state of the portfolio with the Portfolio Canvas tool and identify important business initiatives for achieving the future state. You'll be able to establish portfolio flow with the Portfolio Kanban and prioritize initiatives for maximum economic benefit. The course also provides insights on how to establish Value Stream Budgets and Lean Budget Guardrails and measure the Lean portfolio performance. What you will Learn Describe the importance of LPM Connect the portfolio to enterprise strategy Implement Lean budgeting and guardrails Establish portfolio flow with the Portfolio Kanban Support operational excellence with APMO and CoPs Coordinate Value Streams Measure the LPM performance Build a plan for LPM implementation Introducing Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) Establishing Strategy and Investment Funding Applying Agile Portfolio Operations Applying Lean Governance Implementing the LPM function
SAFe® Lean Portfolio Management: Virtual In-House Training Create a culture of innovation, flexibility, and speed where all people in the portfolio can effectively execute as one unified team. In this course, you will gain the practical tools and techniques necessary to implement the Lean Portfolio Management functions of Strategy and Investment Funding, Agile Portfolio Operations, and Lean Governance. You will have the opportunity to capture the current and future state of the portfolio with the Portfolio Canvas tool and identify important business initiatives for achieving the future state. You'll be able to establish portfolio flow with the Portfolio Kanban and prioritize initiatives for maximum economic benefit. The course also provides insights on how to establish Value Stream Budgets and Lean Budget Guardrails and measure the Lean portfolio performance. What you will Learn Describe the importance of LPM Connect the portfolio to enterprise strategy Implement Lean budgeting and guardrails Establish portfolio flow with the Portfolio Kanban Support operational excellence with APMO and CoPs Coordinate Value Streams Measure the LPM performance Build a plan for LPM implementation Introducing Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) Establishing Strategy and Investment Funding Applying Agile Portfolio Operations Applying Lean Governance Implementing the LPM function
Ethernet LANS training course description This course has been replaced as part of our continuous curriculum development. Please see our Definitive Ethernet switching course What will you learn Describe what Ethernet is and how it works. Install Ethernet networks Troubleshoot Ethernet networks Analyse Ethernet packets Design Ethernet networks Recognise the uses of Hubs, Bridges, switches and routers. Ethernet LANS training course details Who will benefit: Those wishing to find out more about how their LAN works. Prerequisites: Intro to Data comms & networking. Duration 3 days Ethernet LANS training course contents What is Ethernet? LANS, What is Ethernet?, history, standards, the OSI reference model, how Ethernet works, CSMA/CD. Ethernet Cabling UTP, cat 3,4,5, Cat 5e, Cat 6, Cat 7, fibre optic cable, MMF, SMF. Hands on Making a cable. 802.3 physical specifications Distance limitations, hubs and repeaters, 5-4-3-2-1 rule, 10BaseT, 10BaseF, 100BaseTX, 100BaseFX, 1000BaseSX, 1000BaseT, 10gbe. Hands on Working with hubs. Ethernet layer 2 Overview, NICS, device drivers, MAC addresses, broadcasts, multicasts, frame formats, Ether II, 802.3, 802.2, SNAP, compatibility, Ethernet type numbers, Ethernet multicast addresses, Ethernet vendor codes. Hands on Installing Ethernet components, analysing MAC headers. IP and Ethernet ARP Hands on Analysing ARP packets. Ethernet extensions Full/half duplex, auto negotiation, flow control methods, 802.3ad, 802.3af, 802.3ah. Hands on Configuration of full/half duplex. Ethernet speed enhancements Encoding, Carrier extension, packet bursting, jumbo frames. Prioritisation 802.1P, 802.1Q, TOS, WRR, QOS, VLANs. Hands on 802.1p testing Interconnecting LANS Broadcast domains, Collision domains, What are bridges, transparent bridging, What are switches? STP, VLANS, What are routers? Layer 3 switches, Connecting Ethernet to the WAN. Hands on STP, Analysing Ethernet frames in a routed architecture. Troubleshooting and maintaining Ethernet Utilisation, performance, TDR and other testers, bottlenecks, statistics, RMON. Hands on Monitoring performance, troubleshooting tools.
Overview Intro. Translating Strategy into Goals and Metrics Components of Strategy Understanding the failure of strategies Analysing you and your organisation mission, vision and strengths Introduction into Strategy Implementation Understanding Performance Management System Objectives and Measures The importance of strategy planning
Integrating UNIX and Microsoft course description This course is designed for the enterprise-level UNIX professional and represents the highest level of professional, distribution-neutral UNIX certification within the industry. It covers administering UNIX enterprise-wide with an emphasis on mixed environments. What will you learn Configure and troubleshoot OpenLDAP. Use OpenLDAP as an authentication backend. Manage software packages. Use Samba - Share configuration - User and group management - Domain integration - Name services - with Linux and Windows clients Integrating UNIX and Microsoft course details Who will benefit: Enterprise-level UNIX professionals. Prerequisites: UNIX network administration. Duration 5 days Integrating UNIX and Microsoft course contents OPENLDAP CONFIGURATION OpenLDAP replication Replication concepts, OpenLDAP replication, replication log files, replica hubs, LDAP referrals, LDAP sync replication. Securing the Directory Securing the directory with SSL and TLS, Firewall considerations, Unauthenticated access methods, User/password authentication methods, Maintanence of SASL user DB, certificates. OpenLDAP Server Performance Tuning Measure OpenLDAP performance, Tune software configuration to increase performance, indexes. OPENLDAP AS AN AUTHENTICATION BACKEND LDAP Integration with PAM and NSS Configure PAM to use LDAP for authentication, NSS to retrieve information from LDAP and PAM modules in UNIX. Integrating LDAP with Active Directory and Kerberos Kerberos integration with LDAP, Cross platform authentication, Single sign-on concepts, Integration and compatibility limitations between OpenLDAP and Active Directory. SAMBA BASICS Samba Concepts and Architecture Samba daemons and components, key issues regarding heterogeneous network, Identify key TCP/UDP ports used with SMB/CIFS, Knowledge of Samba3 and Samba4 differences. Configure Samba Samba server configuration file structure, variables and configuration parameters, Troubleshoot and debug configuration problems. Regular Samba Maintenance Monitor and interact with running Samba daemons, Perform regular backups of Samba configuration and state data. Troubleshooting Samba Samba logging, Backup TDB files, Restore TDB files, Identify TDB file corruption, Edit / list TDB file content. Internationalization Internationalization character codes and code pages, differences in the name space between Windows and Linux/Unix with respect to share, names, user/group/computer naming in a non-English environment. SAMBA SHARE CONFIGURATION Linux File System and Share/Service Permissions File / directory permission control, Samba interaction with Linux file system permissions and ACLs, Use Samba VFS to store Windows ACLs. Print Services Printer sharing, integration between Samba and CUPS, Manage Windows print drivers and configure downloading of print drivers, security concerns with printer sharing. SAMBA USER AND GROUP MANAGEMENT Managing User Accounts and Groups User and group accounts, mappings, user account management tools, smbpasswd, file/directory ownership of objects. Authentication, Authorization and Winbind Local password database, password synchronization, passdb backends, Convert between passdb backends, Integrate Samba with LDAP, Winbind service, PAM and NSS. SAMBA DOMAIN INTEGRATION Samba as a PDC and BDC Domain membership and trust relationships, Create and maintain a PDC and BDC with Samba3/4, Add computers to an existing domain, logon scripts, roaming profiles, system policies. Samba4 as an AD compatible Domain Samba 4 as an AD DC, smbclient, how Samba integrates with AD services: DNS, Kerberos, NTP, LDAP. Configure Samba as a Domain Member Server Joining Samba to NT4 and AD domains, obtain a TGT from a KDC. SAMBA NAME SERVICES NetBIOS and WINS WINS concepts, NetBIOS concepts, local master browser, domain master browser, Samba as a WINS server, name resolution, WINS replication, NetBIOS browsing and browser elections, NETBIOS name types. Active Directory Name Resolution DNS for Samba4 as an AD Domain Controller, DNS forwarding with the internal DNS server of Samba4. WORKING WITH LINUX AND WINDOWS CLIENTS CIFS Integration SMB/CIFS concepts, remote CIFS shares from a Linux client, securely storing CIFS credentials, features and benefits of CIFS, permissions and file ownership of remote CIFS shares. Working with Windows Clients browse lists and SMB clients from Windows, Share file/print resources from Windows, the smbclient program, the Windows net utility.
Integrating Linux and Microsoft course description This course is designed for the enterprise-level Linux professional and represents the highest level of professional, distribution-neutral Linux certification within the industry. LPIC-3 300 covers administering Linux enterprise-wide with an emphasis on mixed environments. What will you learn Configure and troubleshoot OpenLDAP. Use OpenLDAP as an authentication backend. Manage software packages. Use Samba - Share configuration - User and group management - Domain integration - Name services - with Linux and Windows clients Integrating Linux and Microsoft course details Who will benefit: Enterprise-level Linux professionals. Prerequisites: Delegates must have an active LPIC-2 certification to receive LPIC-3 certification, but the LPIC-2 and LPIC-3 exams may be taken in any order. Duration 5 days Integrating UNIX and Microsoft course contents OPENLDAP CONFIGURATION OpenLDAP replication Replication concepts, OpenLDAP replication, replication log files, replica hubs, LDAP referrals, LDAP sync replication. Securing the Directory Securing the directory with SSL and TLS, Firewall considerations, Unauthenticated access methods, User/password authentication methods, Maintanence of SASL user DB, certificates. OpenLDAP Server Performance Tuning Measure OpenLDAP performance, Tune software configuration to increase performance, indexes. OPENLDAP AS AN AUTHENTICATION BACKEND LDAP Integration with PAM and NSS Configure PAM to use LDAP for authentication, NSS to retrieve information from LDAP and PAM modules in UNIX. Integrating LDAP with Active Directory and Kerberos Kerberos integration with LDAP, Cross platform authentication, Single sign-on concepts, Integration and compatibility limitations between OpenLDAP and Active Directory. SAMBA BASICS Samba Concepts and Architecture Samba daemons and components, key issues regarding heterogeneous network, Identify key TCP/UDP ports used with SMB/CIFS, Knowledge of Samba3 and Samba4 differences. Configure Samba Samba server configuration file structure, variables and configuration parameters, Troubleshoot and debug configuration problems. Regular Samba Maintenance Monitor and interact with running Samba daemons, Perform regular backups of Samba configuration and state data. Troubleshooting Samba Samba logging, Backup TDB files, Restore TDB files, Identify TDB file corruption, Edit / list TDB file content. Internationalization Internationalization character codes and code pages, differences in the name space between Windows and Linux/Unix with respect to share, names, user/group/computer naming in a non-English environment. SAMBA SHARE CONFIGURATION Linux File System and Share/Service Permissions File / directory permission control, Samba interaction with Linux file system permissions and ACLs, Use Samba VFS to store Windows ACLs. Print Services Printer sharing, integration between Samba and CUPS, Manage Windows print drivers and configure downloading of print drivers, security concerns with printer sharing. SAMBA USER AND GROUP MANAGEMENT Managing User Accounts and Groups User and group accounts, mappings, user account management tools, smbpasswd, file/directory ownership of objects. Authentication, Authorization and Winbind Local password database, password synchronization, passdb backends, Convert between passdb backends, Integrate Samba with LDAP, Winbind service, PAM and NSS. SAMBA DOMAIN INTEGRATION Samba as a PDC and BDC Domain membership and trust relationships, Create and maintain a PDC and BDC with Samba3/4, Add computers to an existing domain, logon scripts, roaming profiles, system policies. Samba4 as an AD compatible Domain Samba 4 as an AD DC, smbclient, how Samba integrates with AD services: DNS, Kerberos, NTP, LDAP. Configure Samba as a Domain Member Server Joining Samba to NT4 and AD domains, obtain a TGT from a KDC. SAMBA NAME SERVICES NetBIOS and WINS WINS concepts, NetBIOS concepts, local master browser, domain master browser, Samba as a WINS server, name resolution, WINS replication, NetBIOS browsing and browser elections, NETBIOS name types. Active Directory Name Resolution DNS for Samba4 as an AD Domain Controller, DNS forwarding with the internal DNS server of Samba4. WORKING WITH LINUX AND WINDOWS CLIENTS CIFS Integration SMB/CIFS concepts, remote CIFS shares from a Linux client, securely storing CIFS credentials, features and benefits of CIFS, permissions and file ownership of remote CIFS shares. Working with Windows Clients browse lists and SMB clients from Windows, Share file/print resources from Windows, the smbclient program, the Windows net utility.
Project Accounting and Finance Skills: In-House Training Do you manage both project schedules and budgets, but do not have insight into how actual results relate to the approved budget? Do you desire to have more clarity about the relationship between your project's performance with the accounting and financial systems in your organization? Do you need to understand financial and accounting terminology to bridge the gap between the 'world of finance' and the 'world of project management? Organizations have a need to manage-by-projects, because projects are the means to deliver on strategic goals and objectives. Therefore, the project manager must have an understanding of the financial world of investments to ensure the organization will realize expected business value. This requires a foundation in the principles of accounting and finance to comprehend how the project's contribution provides an organization with a competitive advantage. Learn what you must do to give your organization the assurance it needs that its investment in your project will realize business value. Learn what you must do to give your organization the assurance it needs to know that its investment in your project will realize business value. What You Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Explain the aspects of classical corporate accounting and finance effects on managing projects Determine how your project fits into the corporate income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement Analyze the financial aspects of managing projects Use earned value management as the basis for decision making throughout the project life Recognize the importance of the project manager's financial responsibilities Focus on what PMs do and should be doing, in support of accounting and finance Use financial information within a project environment to meet financial results Track and analyze the project's financial status and forecast with the goal of realizing benefits Generate work performance data to ensure a project's outcome aligns with financial metrics Foundation Concepts Accounting and Finance Terms and Concepts Accounting and Finance Essentials Financial Terms and Concepts Projects as Financial Investments Overview of 'Two Worlds' Project as Investments Accounting and Finance World: Standards, Principles and Practices Accounting and Finance Standards and Principles Accounting and Finance Practices Capital Budgeting Corporate Budgeting Accounting and Finance World: Economic Project Selection Methods Economic Project Selection Methods Economic Project Selection and the Business Case Project Management World Project Management and Financial Controls Project Management and Work Performance Data Project Management and Earned Value Management Project Management and Work Performance Reporting