The Hi-Strung Manufacturing Company (HSM) is a large manufacturer of a range of specialized products to support the electricity industry. It has 27 departments, each of which is given substantial autonomy to manage its financial affairs.

To date, HSM has used a batch financial reporting system for its departments. At the end of each week, the departmental managers receive financial reports from the information systems department. There reports are intended to assist the departmental managers to exercise control over their own departments.

HSM is about to implement a new computer system that will allow departments to input their own financial data and to obtain various reports that can be used to assist in running a department. The project team is intending to cease operation of the old financial system at the end of the next two months and to commence operation of the new system immediately at the changeover date.

A major task now facing the project team is to undertake training of HSM's departmental staff who will operate and use the new computer system. While some managerial level personnel will be involved, most direct users of the system will be clerical staff. About 100 staff will require training with the new system.

To conduct the training, the project team plans to carry out five group training sessions, each of which will involve about 20 users of the new system. Each group will receive two days of training: one day prior to the system coming online; and a second day after the system has been operational for one month. The first day's training will introduce users to the basic functionality provided within the system. It will also show them the online help facilities that are available within the system. The second day's training will introduce users to some of the more advanced features of the system after they have gained basic familiarity with the system. It will also allow them to address any concerns they have in light of their first month's experience with the system.
For the first two months' operation of the system, the project team also plans to set up a special help desk in the information systems department to assist users with any difficulties they encounter with the system. Users will be able to phone this help desk to get assistance when they encounter difficulties in using the system.
You are the manager of internal audit with HSM. In light of the impending implementation of the new financial system, you receive a visit from HSM's controller. She expresses concern about the adequacy of training proposed for the new system. She points out that many of the clerical staff who will be involved with the new system have little or no experience with computers. She also perceives that many are reluctant to use computers. In this light, she asks your opinion on whether you believe the training proposed for the system will lead to effective use of the system.
Required: Write a brief report indicating any concerns you have about the proposed training approach for the new system. Briefly indicate some ways in which you believe these concerns could be mitigated.