What kind of pricing structure exists?  

Generally, we offer both perpetual (single purchase for installation on your in-house web server) or hosted managed services contract inlcuding license for x number of active employees being tracked.
Contact us at Productivity Systems (412-741-8623 ext 1) for a live web and teleconference demonstration and quote.

Is the graphical interface customize-able?

The look of the interface can be customized at installation or at anytime by the customer with some training.

PROGRESSIVE LCMS: Interface schemas can be designed for corporate branding and blending with the look and feel of your in-house intranet. You can choose to use the 40 hours of personalization/customization toward this effort.

Is there hosting of the database by the vendor?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: The preferred installation is the customer’s intranet or internet web server behind a firewall. Hosting arrangements are available.

PROGRESSIVE LCMS: The preferred installation is hosted managed services; perpetual license is also offered for in-house installation.

Should I build, buy or host a system?

Build versus Buy or Host

What kind of database(s) is the data stored in?  (Access, SQL, ...)

PRO Compliance Training Manager: The network version is a Powerbuilder application with a .mdb file format. The web version currently supports SQL Server. Oracle may be supported in the future depending on demand.

PROGRESSIVE LCMS: Generally a SQL database is preferred.

Will the system allow the downloading of personnel and previous staff development information for professional, paraprofessional, and auxiliary employees from existing databases.Related question: Can we output information in a format that can be connected to existing HR compensation profile and turnover data, as well as key corporate data such as District Sales?

PRO Learning Manager: The Report Writer Module or Crystal Reports may be used for customized reporting needs or MS Access in the event you choose that database. Custom programmed interfaces with other existing software systems may be contracted. Evaluation and processing of data for analysis can be accomplished with the Report Writer or Crystal Reports that can be linked to the database as a source of information.

PROGRESSIVE LCMS: Data synchronization can be accomplished via a text file export in a particular format that our system will read and import the data where appropriate. Customization charges may be possible to make this happen.. We can make text file exports possible.

Can the database of personnel information be automatically updated on a regular basis from another database?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: A Data synchronization module is available to establish the mapping and automatic updating of data between two software systems. Automatic data synchronization / integration is available for employee and document /course/procedure data with the web-based version.

Will the system record name, title of session, session number, continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours, and credit category for each session.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Credit category may be available or can be added. The other fields are accommodated. User definable values for course category, courge group, employee qualification level, and 3 org hierarchy levels are available.

Is the system secure?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: When installed on a customer’s intranet, the application resides on the internal side of a firewall which prohibits access from outside parties.When accessed via the internet, a secure user login and password restricts access and data is encrypted.The web server can be configured by the customer or the service provider to route browser-based traffic through a specific IP address or port requiring a user ID and password. Administrator specifies user profiles for administrative users including add, modify, delete, view, reports for each type of data. New users are assigned a profile that can be customized for a specific individual adminstrative user. Profiles can be established for instructors, data entry, management, and other staff required varying abilities to manage enrollment, view /update data, print reports, etc.

Is it SCORM compliant and/or certified?

All systems with SCORM capability support both SCORM 1.2 and 2004 SCORM standards. SCORM capability is an add-on module to PRO Compliance Training Manager.

Will the system easily work with other WBTs (will they work with it)?

Compliance Training Manager Web only: We track both awareness and proficiency training. This means learners can launch any web deliverable document and sign off the the PowerPoint slide, PDF, or other document was read and understoon. For proficiency we add the SCORM module to track completion and test results.

Any content may be delivered that is viewable through a web browser such as Word Documents, Adobe PDF, PowerPoint, Flash, web pages, and files such as animated gifs, movies in various file formats, etc.

All web-based versions: The product is positioned to track training events at an affordable cost. You can link to any externally developed WBT course programs. Most customers use the system for tracking of all courses delivered via classroom, online or some combination and for online distribution of internally developed content and tests.

PROGRESSIVE LCMS: Any type of web deliverable docuemnts and offline training (classroom sessions) can be tracked within a curriculum. There is not an electronic signature sign-off in the standard product; this would require customization services.

Does the system provide bookmarking of any kind?

All web-based versions: Bookmarking is supported whether content is developed in the LCMS or with other authoring software that incorporates bookmarking and passes the values to the system. SCORM standards make this possible.

We also offer course authoring software (http://www.pro-ductivity.com/authoringpro/index.htm)

Will the system launch WBT created with "off-the-shelf" programs such as Dreamweaver, FrontPage, CourseBuilder...)

Both web versions: This capability is handled for SCORM compliant content. A cookie or javascript variable must be passed from the course content to system which would also require a session ID to track bookmark and score information. via form submission

Currently, SCORM compliant courses and test assessments may be created with our rapid application development software. Our system is tested with the leading authoring software products available.

(http://www.pro-ductivity.com/authoringpro/index.htm). The system tracks various information about the students interaction with the course and quiz questions.

Does the system allow any content to be customized?

You might customize content using(Authoring Software)

All web systems: Yes

Can the system launch post-class follow up assessments? Whether you refer to course evaluation survey or proficiency test assessment, the answers are the same.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Creating courses and tests are accomplished with our (or other leading products) SCORM compliant authoring software system. The system launches the course materials via a hyperlink. Tests can be pre-test, quizzes, post-tests, practice tests, certification tests with or without feedback, etc.

PROGRESSIVE LCMS: A test assessment can be creates as a separate learning item using the Assessment Engine in the LCMS or you can create a test assessment with your preferred authoring tool and track it with a separate Course ID within a curriculum. Tests can be pre-test, quizzes, post-tests, practice tests, certification tests with or without feedback, etc.

Web-based Assessments

Can pre-tests be administered on the web and scored instantly?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Creating courses and tests are accomplished with our (or other leading products) SCORM / AICC / LRN compliant authoring software system.

All web versions: The use of authoring software such as (http://www.pro-ductivity.com/authoringpro/index.htm) is a possibility as well to score assessments and send score results to this SCORM-compliant LMS.

PROGRESSIVE LCMS: A test assessment can be creates as a separate learning item using the Assessment Engine in the LCMS or you can create a test assessment with your preferred authoring tool and track it with a separate Course ID within a curriculum. Tests can be pre-test, quizzes, post-tests, practice tests, certification tests with or without feedback, etc.

Is there random question generation for testing?

All Web systems: Absolutely.

Can correct answers can be viewed along with scores?

PRO Compliance Training Manager Web: Creating courses and tests are accomplished with our SCORM / AICC / LRN compliant authoring software system for which we can absolutely ensure you can view elapsed time in the course/test, total score, passing and completed status, each test question response made, whether correct or incorrect, and point value "weight" for the answer. Other 3rd party authoring software may not track this much detail about the test. Be sure to inquire before establishing expectations. The degree to which software vendors implement the SCORM standards can vary. Our LMS can definite show these results if they are passed from the authored courseware.

PROGRESSIVE LCMS:

Can manager’s view test results on the web?

Yes, provided they have an application user login with a specific user access permission profile.

Can checklists can be clicked on for completion?

PRO Compliance Training Manager Web: Survey checklists can be created with authoring software and delivered to learners, managers, instructors for observations and orther purposes. Training attendance, due for re-training, scheduled training and more are available from the reports menu. Searching for Attendance date of BLANK will produce incomplete training requirements for the Training Requirements report.

PROGRESSIVE LCMS: Surveys can be created and delivered using the built-in capability.

Are there online course evaluations?

PRO Compliance Training Manager Web: Learners choose the User Feedback button and complete an evaluation online for any course they have attended. Using SCORM conformant authoring software, one can create faculty and student feedback forms customized to the course delivered and tracked online.

PROGRESSIVE LCMS: Surveys are created and used for this purpose as well as other purposes. A Likert question type is available.

Web-based Reporting

Will the system allow a user to print transcript of sessions completed.? Yes.

PRO Compliance Training Manager Web: Either a student or manager may print history of attended classes, certifications and competencies held.

Will the LMS / LCMS be accessible so users may enroll, check status, print schedules and reports of sessions completed?

Yes, this capability exists for both learners and managers as well as administrators.

Will the system report overall attendance statistics?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Most customers familiar with SQL databases prefer to use SQL tools (Microsoft Server Reporting Services or Crystal Reports since they are already familiar. You can obtain the Data Dynamics Report Writer tool that we used to create the standard reports for the purpose of customizing those reports or ask us to prepare a custom report and perhaps add it to the Reports Menu.

PROGRESSIVE LCMS: You can use a preferred tool to create custom reports or statistical analyses or contract us to prepare reports for you.

Can the system enable managers to view information for their own departments?

PRO Compliance Training Manager (client server): Managers can view their own individual reports or, with the use of the multiple data location module, one can specify what set of users can access what training databases.

Multiple data locations would be handled with our three (3) user-definable org. hierarchy reporting levels in the web-based version (additional licenses would be involved should they be installed on separate server locations).

PRO Compliance Training Manager (Web): The Reports To and Oversees field values in employee records determines who a supervisor can view training data for when they log in as a manager. Application User Login access permissions dictate what an administrative user might see and do when they log in to prepare reports, view or modify data, etc.

PROGRESSIVE LCMS: The organization structure determines who can view what data.

Ability to sort by Name, Title, Course, Department, Location, Date of Hire, District, Region, test score.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: This web-based system provides reporting on up to 4 organization hierarchy levels (3 of which are user-defineable above departments) and up to 5 levels of report sorting that can be user-selected.

Will the system report participants that still need to be trained?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: This web-based system can track compliance for point-in-time and other training audit needs in addition to that of required courses. It notifies learners when required courses or competencies or certifications must be taken, when training is to begin, and when a manager enrolls them into a course.

PROGRESSIVE LCMS: Learners can view curriculum progress, overall training status and administrative managers can view reports.

Will The system print a customized training program completion certificate?

If so, please advise how this is accomplished?

PRO Compliance Training Manager (client server version): A separate certification printer program is available or you may make use of your Microsoft Word Mail-merge capabilities. PRO Compliance Training Manager (WEB): A button to print a completion certificate appears to the right of each completed course for printing/re-printing a completions certificate.
A report can be created for this purpose in our web-based version or you can deliver a certificate to the student at the completion of the online course by creating this process with our course authoring system and making it part of the completion of each course. The authored course must pass completion status of "completed" only if a passing test score is achieved.

PROGRESSIVE LCMS: A certificate button is available for all completed courses listed that have a passing score or completion status.

Will the system print out a copy of our client's company policy?

If so, please advise how this is accomplished?

All web systems: Links to policy documents may be made available from within the course listing or from within an authored SCORM course.

Customization and Maintenance

Will The system reside on our SQL server?

Yes it can, or you may choose a hosted ASP (application service provider) approach.

Is the system an expandable system?

Yes, All web LMS / LCMS software sysetms are customizable, scalable, and expandable.The web server technology used loads on Internet Information Server (IIS) as an ASP page. Also, scalability is facilitated by placing the database on a server and having several web servers shift the load of access to the database.

Are The LCMS customers not reliant on vendor support for maintenance? Related question: Is the purchase a one-time fee with no annual charges?

All web systems: One year support and free upgrades is included at time of purchase of a perpetual license.We also offer annual maintenance, upgrade and support program or application hosting for an annual fee.

All web systems: Our program developers are available to consider any customized changes that you need.

Is initial training and documentation provided for lead administrator?

All systems: The web-based version of Compliance Training Manager (Web) requires the .NET framework. All web versions are a simple CD/ SQL server script installation when purchased for in-house installation. Live help is available during implementation. We offer a training course on-site or via web and teleconference. Progressive LCMS includes one 6 hour training session via the web and teleconference.

For our course authoring software, a two-day package for training is available. We also offer a one-day event for "Designing Web-based Training" Web and teleconference -based training events and consulting time slots are available for 3 hours each. Typically 6 - 12 WBT hours is needed (2 - 4 days) for initial training.

( http://www.pro-ductivity.com/authoringpro/purchase.htm).

Can we use an existing system to market courses to others?

In the event that you would want to resell any of our software, please contact us for information on license distribution and costs.

When we market courses to others, do they need to license The LCMS in addition to our license when they don’t already have their own LMS?

In the event that you would want to resell any of our software, please contact us for information on license distribution and costs. If you host courses for others, your cost would increase by the cost to license the system for additional active users.

PRO Compliance Training Manager and SCORM LMS (WEB): You could establish an organization level to distinguish between customer data and in-house training data and certainly develop access from a web page with ecommerce at that web page.

Progressive LCMS: We have a built-in site management capability. Just order the add-on multiple portal and ecommerce modules and you are ready to market courses to others via a separate "subLMS" portal. Differing interface schemas can be created for varying languages and customers.

HR Functions

Can The system handle matching training with developmental skills by employee?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: This capability can also be accomplished by creating competencies as course codes to be tracked. When specified as job requirements in career path or job requirement curricula, they will be tracked and reported in the learner's training history with dates on which they were acquired from mastered training content.

Progressive LCMS: We have an add-on SKill Competency module that tracks competencies by curriculum, course and test. Learners completing courses and tests successfully are marked as having obtrained the competence. One can look at the additional reports provided for skill gaps and skill finder.

Is there an ability for tracking of non-training career development activities (mentoring, special projects, etc.)?

Any activity/project can be included in a course or created as a course for tracking purposes in any of our versions.

Can The system handle succession planning and career path charting?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Yes, this capability can also be accomplished using either version using multiple job assignments. and requirements. Further, career path and other curriculum estatablished are kept maintained when course revisions become effective and when employees transfer job positions.