Pilot Programs - A Solid Proven Plan

The following describes more about how the pilot program works, now broken down into finer detail:

Step 1 - Planning The Pilot

A. Select which employees will participate in your pilot program.  You may email prospective participants or select them by other means (see sample Prospective Participant Email).  If you are simply selecting participants, you can email them of them to inform them of the pilot program (see sample Designated Participant Email). There are a number of things to consider here.  Who will be representative of your population of employees?  Clients usually select employees from various departments, if possible, including administrative, call center, CAD/CAM specialists, development, IT or computer services, data entry, legal and even executives.  Research has proven that RSI does not distinguish who gets injured at their computer by job classification, as there are many variables contributing to RSI including pacing, posture, age, gender and non-employment-related factors. 

B. Select one or both of the data collection methodologies to fits your needs.  There are two main data collection methodologies which may be used independently or together:

• Objective data can be accumulated with installation of the network version of ErgoEnterprise.  This data, encompassing all aspects of user activity, will be invaluable if you decide that it's important to you to prove out your actual projected return on investment from increased user productivity.  Examples of reports possible from collecting objective data can be found at: ErgoAnalyzer Reporting & Analysis. Details of elements collected for objective data can be found at: ErgoAnalyzer Data & Functions. 
   

• Subjective data can be accumulated, which simply involves the users taking a survey, at the completion of the pilot program, where they can register their perceptions about the software. If you're planning to collect only subjective data, the single-user version of ErgoEnterprise will suffice and can be installed at workstations. In this case, there is no need to conduct a two-phased four-week approach, which is designed to objectively measure the impact of 'using the software' relating to increased user productivity due to reduced fatigue, and so the pilot program can run effectively for two weeks, or as long as you deem appropriate.

C. You should now download either the network or single user versions of ErgoEnterprise (see Trial Product Downloads).  Before you install, involve your organization's IT Group!  Some organizations restrict users from installing software on their own computers. If your organization does this then you'll need to involve your IT Group for support. Your organization's IT Group has a very challenging job in helping your organization utilize technology to achieve it's goals and objectives.  They also want you to have a safe, productive and healthy experience at your computer!  For a detailed technology overview which you can share with your organization's IT Group, see Information Technology Overview.

We have extensive experience, and references, from working with professional IT Groups in organizations with 5 employees in one office up to more than 100,000 employees spread out over large geographic regions globally.  We understand their challenges and needs.  We're here to help both them and you make it all an easy and positive experience.

Your IT Group may require that they be involved in the installation of the software, specifically designed to be acceptable to IT Groups' needs, or they may leave installation to the users after learning how it works.  Workstation installation takes literally two minutes.

D. Set the schedule.  The pilot program typically runs four weeks if you're collecting objective data - or two weeks if it's purely subjective user's perspectives. Preparation prior to the start of the pilot program can require as little as a few days up to as long as it takes for you to select your participants and get an appointment with your IT Group.  Post pilot program activities can also require as little as a few days or may take longer depending on schedules.

Step 2 - Installing And Starting The Pilot

A. If you are collecting objective data, then a Network Command Center is first installed at your workstation so that you can monitor the pilot program at your own desk.  The Network Command Center installation takes literally two minutes. 

B. If you are not collecting objective data and using ErgoEnterprise Single, you can now email the participants to notify them that the pilot is to begin (see sample Pilot Program Start Email).  If you are using ErgoEnterprise Network and collecting objective data also, then wait to send this email until you enter phase two (visible mode). 

C. The users are installed.  Either your organization's IT Group will "push" the ergonomic tools automatically to the users' computers or they will be installed by the users, or your IT Group, at the users' computers.

If collecting objective data, then we are entering phase-one of the pilot program, while the software is invisible so that you can accumulate objective base-line data for the users' activity.

D. Monitor the launch of phase one of the pilot program.  If you are only collecting subjective data using the Single version of ErgoEnterprise, now is the time to briefly follow-up with the pilot program participants to confirm that they installed (see Participant Install Follow-up Email).  ErgoEnterprise provides extensive reporting and analysis.  If you are also collecting objective data, then that data will start to appear in the ErgoAnalyzer Reporting and Analysis Tool found in the Network Command Center, as it is generated in real time.

If collecting objective data, then at the mid-way point of two weeks, launch phase two of the pilot program where the software becomes visible.  The Network Command Center enables you to easily adjust the users' ergonomic tool settings to make the software visible - all from your own desk.  If switching to a visible mode, it is advisable to email the participants the day before the ergonomic tool becomes visible (see Pilot Program Start Email)

Step 3 - Managing And Concluding The Pilot Program

Conclude the pilot program and gather the results.  Now is the time to email the participants and request that they take the pilot program survey (see Pilot Program Conclusion Email). If you have created your own survey, you can now harvest the resulting data.

Examples of reports possible from collecting objective data can be found at: ErgoAnalyzer Reporting & Analysis. Details of elements collected for objective data can be found at: ErgoAnalyzer Data & Functions.
 

We are eager to share our experience and assist your pilot program or large-scale study.  Please contact us with even the smallest questions.