LMS Frequently Asked Questions of Productivity Systems LMS / LCMS learning management systems, training tracking, training administration software products and services

What server platforms does The LCMS run on?

Consult the current documentation or contact us at 412-741-8623 or

What is involved with the installation process?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: During a scheduled four (4) -day TSP (training success services package) the administrators and managers (course developers, training coordinators and key IT staff) are trained to import student information, create and manage course information and an overview for IT staff.

Upon server installation, the administrator establishes users, security access permissions, user login information, etc. Following successful deployment, staff enters data that has not yet been imported.

How many users can be handled (or how large of a corporation)?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: The number of users can be unlimited based upon the database used and storage space available. We have an installation script provided for SQL.

What kind of pricing structure exists?

Contact us at Productivity Systems (412-741-8623 ext 1) for a 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.The web server can be configured by the customer or the service provider to route browser-based traffic through a specific 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?

PRO Compliance Manager (WEB based): Yes. Either 1.2 or 2004 SCORM standards can be used.

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 devlierable 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. 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.

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. Systems that offer such capability typically cost significantly more.

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.

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(http://www.pro-ductivity.com/authoringedit/index.htm) or other course authoring software.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Content is linked from the course listing to launch course materials, so customization is accomplished within the desired course/test authoring software.

Can different permissions be allotted per use and/or user groups?

PRO Compliance Training Manager (client server version): User Id and Password enables access to the database. Security rights for specific functions are specified within each database.
On a network version, with the use of multi data locations module, users are linked to the databases to which they are to be permitted to access.

Does the system have search functionality -- in order to retrieve scores, etc.?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Yes, powerful and flexible search capability exists for creating custom reports easily. An easy to use screen builds sophisticated queries of your training data without needing to know query language syntax format. Our web version includes a Report Writer or you can access the SQL database with other tools or with Crystal Reports.

Course Registration FAQ’s

What options are available for login procedures?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: The administrator establishes a user profile for a learner specifying access permissions. The employee can receive email instruction to login with a default password and change it to a new password before using the system.

Does the system have web browser-based training registration for both Instructor-led and Web-based courses?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Yes.

Does the system indicate when the class is full and enroll learners on a waiting list?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Yes.

When a learner registers for a course, can they launch pre-work?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Yes, one could establish a course link that must be launched and completed as pre-work. Pre-requisite control is handled when establishing the curriculum of training requirements.

Training Administration FAQ’s

Does the system post class enrollment lists on the web?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Yes, any report can be exported in an HTML web page format for publication to an intranet or internet web page as well as .PDF, .RTF or .DOC, .TXT and .XLS. These reports can also be sent to an email distribution list.

Does the system allow budget/cost data tracking?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Yes, a course cost field is available for information purposes. More elaborate cost reporting can be developed as well.

Automatic email notification FAQ’s

Will the system create e-mails addressed to participants upon registration, upon session cancellation and upon 48-hour notice for reminder of upcoming sessions?

PRO Compliance Manager (client server version): No, one must run a report and click to send it via email (SMTP) to a distribution list, or check the individuals to receive the report (persons on the report are automatically checked provided they have email address specified in their employee record.

PRO Complaince Manager (Web): Yes and no, classroom class reminders are currently in the system as is any change in enrollment status. For repetitive course training requirements, the system displays the due date and the course re-appears at the interval specificed by the course administrator. An administrator can run a report regarding due dates and send it via email (SMTP). The course contact person will be notified regarding the waitlist and maximum enrollment depending on class details completed when scheduling an on-site instructor-led class..

Does the system offer the ability to post specific class information by session regarding hotel location, agenda, etc.?

PRO Compliance Training Manager Web: Yes.

Will the system be able to notify the "waiting list" by e-mail of an opening after a cancellation?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Yes

Can the system launch post-class follow up assessments?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Creating courses and tests are accomplished with our (or other leading products) SCORM / AICC / LRN compliant authoring software system. The system launches this course materials via a hyperlink.

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 LCMS.

Is there random question generation for testing?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: 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. The system can transfer to the LMS or to a server-side database not only Passed / Failed or the exact test score, but each question and answer delivered/chosen for the learner.

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.

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.

Web-based Reporting

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

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

Will the LMS 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. We can sell the Report Writer tool that we used to create the standard reports.

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

PRO Compliance Training Manager (client server): Managers can view their own 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).

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 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.

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. WEB: Our next release has a button incorporated into a column next to each course listed on a screen 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.

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

If so, please advise how this is accomplished?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: 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?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Yes, The LCMS is 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?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: 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.

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Our program developers are available to consider any customized changes that you need.

Is initial training and documentation provided for lead administrator?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: The web-based version of this product requires the .NET framework. Both versions are a simple CD installation. Live help is available during implementation. We offer a training course on-site and can consider some web conference based training events as well.

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.

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.

Coming in 2009: Competency Skills module

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.

Can we track training for documents or procedures that are not yet effective?

PRO Compliance Training Manager: Yes, this capability can also be accomplished using either version for revised required training that is to become effective on a future date and needs training to be completed prior to the procedure effective date. First, create a procedure and a requirement for persons with certain job position(s). Second, you may or may not decide to create a revision as R0 for the first effective version of the procedure. Then record attendance for the appropriate version of the procedure as occurs prior to the procedure effective date.

Note: you cannot schedule for a non-effective training procedure unless you 1.) set the procedure effective date to the date training sessions will begin and 2.) upon the actual procedure effective date, modify the effective date in the procedure record. Attendance records will retain the actual dates of training that occurred prior to the effective date. This process allows you to use the scheduled classes feature but still accomplish what you need regarding audited records.

Two report options exist : 1.) Reports - Training Requirements - Requirements based upon pending revisions and 2.) Reports - Revisions - Requirements based upon pending revisions. The report shows all pending revisions and employees who will be required to attend or be trained. Attendance dates will be shown on the report as individuals attend training sessions and attendance is recorded for those sessions. Report data can be filtered and limited to certain revisions or certain employees / departments or certain positions or any combination of these.

Reports may be distributed to an email distribution list as .PDF (Adobe Acrobat), .TXT (Text), .XLS (Spreadsheet), or word processing .RTF (.DOC in web based) formats.