Training takes into account your existing workflow and skillsets along with the intended goals and opportunities for your organization.
Before any training is scheduled, Crunch conducts a thorough assessment of your data analysis and reporting workflow, and builds with you a Success Plan. The Success Plan informs how the training is delivered, the content, to whom and when. It involves:
- What are your goals for using Crunch. This is critical. The aim of using Crunch is not to replicate your existing workflow, it’s to revolutionize your workflow (for the better).
- Review of your existing workflow - from data collection platform to data processing through to the various deliverables. Identification of opportunities for new ways of working that will deliver value to your organization in line with your goals.
- Assessment of the existing skill sets within your organization. What other software are you using or have used before? What scripting does your DP/analysts currently work with, if any?
- Rollout and deployment - we revolutionize in an evolutionary way. Which parts of the workflow need to change first? What is the optimal targeting and staggering of training?
A training program is then developed and tailored to the needs of your organization.
Session Content
Training generally follows two different streams as outlined below. These are linked to sections of this Help Center for further detail on the content. In both cases, sessions are run with your data, which the Crunch team will review in advance.
The Orientation Course for Research Managers ensures that users understand how to do everything they need for analysis and reporting in (tidy) Crunch dataset. Specifically, researchers will come out with an understanding of how to:
- Log in and access their dataset
- Conduct basic analyses in Crunch - creating tables, charts and storing as a report
- Produce the essential deliverables: dashboards, tab books, PowerPoints
- Find further help and support
- Request a clean and tidy dataset from a DP department, and understand what they should be getting. See this documentation.
- Optionally: become more self-sufficient from DP teams (eg: creating new variables, weights, banners, nets independently). This is a common high-level goal for our users.
The Definitive Guide for Uploading and Preparing Data ensures users know how to turn raw data into a 'tidy' dataset in order for optimal analysis and reporting to happen. This content is typically imparted to DP department, but it can involve analysts as well. Who attends and the content is highly dependent on what the existing data collection platform is and the skill sets of the participants. It equips participants so they:
- Learn how to set up a clean and tidy dataset. See this documentation.
- Understand how a Crunch dataset is different from existing deliverables. Very commonly, this involves working with ‘dataset specs’ instead of extensive ‘tab specs’.
- Adhere to best practice guidelines
- Understand how the GUI operates and how that corresponds to any scripting
- Learn the mechanics of Crunch Automation (which can be set up as a separate training session)
Deploying at scale
For large organizations, we recommend designating Crunch Champions (“super-users”) who can become the trainers of others within your organization. They also become responsible for building internal knowledge. Champions can exist in DP as well as analyst departments.
Organizations can also develop their own internal training resources (for example, specific guidelines on how to achieve standards for deliverables within your organization). The Crunch team can review th
On-going training
Crunch recognizes that training is not a one-pass affair.
- Users may need a refresher after a period of time has passed. Staff turnover means new starters need to come up to speed.
- Importantly, Crunch is a constantly evolving product. New features and enhancements are delivered into the product on a frequent basis.
- Equally importantly, your workflow will be evolving. In line with the Success Plan, a scheduled review of your workflow, analytic techniques and deliverables may reveal the need for additional training to promote best practices in line with your organization's goals.
The review of your Success Plan should be done par the course. Further training sessions delivered by the Crunch Customer Success team can built into the initial pricing, or can be commissioned on an ad-hoc basis.
This Help Center continues to develop new self-service materials, including videos, articles, tutorials and FAQ's, all of which are free of course. Periodically, Crunch also releases public webinars, forums and Q&A sessions.
Delivery
Training is typically delivered online (via Zoom or similar screenshare). See here for details on the logistics of a typical Crunch training session and what to expect.
Crunch can also be commissioned to conduct face-to-face workshops and review sessions.