Since use of the intranet depends on your users’ views of their own efficacy, training is critical in driving adoption.

Training should take place throughout the project's development. One approach that has been successful is to train groups on new functionality when it is released, and also hold regular training for individuals interested in either remedial training or learning about advanced features that they would like to use within their groups.

Training is also a great opportunity to reinforce the marketing messages previously discussed: ease of use; usefulness; and management buy-in. Close the loop by scheduling periodic refresher courses after the system goes live and adding baseline training to new employee orientation.

For our projects, we create a dedicated training page with self-service videos and guides. We make sure that every piece of functionality made available has training material to back it up. We put a link to request training on the top-navigation so it’s available from every page on the intranet.

Rule of thumb during development: If the project were to end tomorrow, the user base should be able to make full use of what you have deployed.

Before you implement a new SharePoint site, you should ask yourself the following questions:

• If the project were to end tomorrow, would the user base be able to make full use of the software you have deployed?

• Does your training include a communications plan to make sure proper messaging is reinforced?

• Has a plan been put in place for ongoing refresher training as well as new-employee training?

• Is it easy for users to request training?

• Is it easy for users to access training materials, such as videos and user guides?

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