Training Options
n Training by Equipment Vendors: This is the most widespread form of training, especially at service provider organizations. Here, the vendor that does the deployment of the network is also responsible for training the professionals employed by the service provider in the operations and maintenance of the network.

The training program is part of the entire contract in many cases. However, this only takes care of short-term training needs. As and when new service creations take place, or augmentation of the network takes place (which is an ongoing process) new training needs crop up. The training lag needs to be removed by providing adequate training and retraining to professionals on emerging technologies and related areas of operations.

n Strong In-house Training Team: This approach means that the service provider has an in-house training team comprising experienced trainers. But the approach has not really worked as service providers have not really paid much attention to it. As a responsibility of the HR department, training and retraining are yet to emerge as a priority area for service providers. Most of the service providers do not have adequately qualified training manpower to impart the required training, which leaves little option for them than to outsource their needs.

n Outsourcing: Outsourcing one’s entire training needs to a specialized training service provider is the best option that is available to the service providers today but unfortunately it has not been fully exploited. There are several reasons to outsource the training part to a third-party provider. This not only frees service providers from the extra burden of developing an in-house training team but also allows them to concentrate on operational aspects. Most of the players have high-quality training programs and also offer customized packages for the service provider. The service provider, by outsourcing, can establish a long-term relationship with training providers to gain a competitive edge in emerging technologies.

This can also help service providers offload non-core functions. They need not worry about hiring the right training staff, can save on capital expenditure, and do away with the need to create a training infrastructure. Many of these outsourcers have also partnered with consultants to deliver more effective training programs, which would not have been feasible for them if they followed the in-house training model. The key, however, is finding the training provider that delivers what it promises.

There have been reports of gaps between what was promised and what actually was delivered. So the challenge is to select a training provider who can service the service provider’s specific needs without putting a heavy load on the latter’s budget.