Implementation Guide

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6. Training

How to approach the task of training users

1. Understand who your audience and its IT abilities; develop the course around that.
2. You may need to deliver different types of training, i.e., groups versus one-on-one.
3. Always follow up with each user after the training session as not everyone likes to ask questions during the training session.
4. Insure all training material is to the point and make sure any screen shots reflect the version and screens that the user will use.
5. Try to have some understanding of the user's role. In particular use examples that reflect his day-to-day business activities.

Going live - the do's and don'ts

1. Do ensure that all your test scripts have been performed and the results have been checked. If this is not possible due to time constraints write a risk log and get business signoff.
2. It is best to have the business user do the testing and sign off.
3. Do ensure you have changed the COMP ID to your LIVE ID especially if your test box becomes your LIVE environment. This is a regular problem especially for the first connection.
4. Try a connectivity test prior to your Go LIVE day. This will give you time to fix any firewall problems. As these usually fall under change control policies, it is best to tie into those timeframes. Failing this you could see significant delays.
5. If in doubt do a regression test. Don't leave it for the Go LIVE day.
6. Do test end-to-end (i.e. front to back office to front again) and check your data.
7. If possible try creating a user test machine that replicates a dealer desktop and perform your user acceptance testing. This way should the application have compatibility issues with another application that is already installed this will be highlighted.
8. It is best to do a fail over test of your network connection prior to Go LIVE.
9. Discuss having a parallel LIVE with your business user, this will give you time to correct any flaws. You could start by sending small volume of trades for one week. However, it is advisable that the dealer keep a record of his trades should you experience problems with the system. Do check each trade with back office and follow it through to settlement. Just because it looks OK in your trading system does not mean it will look OK when it hits the back office. Compliance may want to see these checks and spot-check them.
10. Don't leave things to the last minute.

Go LIVE Day

1. Organize emergency conference call numbers for the duration of your Go LIVE plan. Should there be a problem then you can get the correct people discussing the issues immediately.
2. Hold a kickoff meeting with both buy and sell side key people and if necessary your network provider.
3. Always end the day with a conference call of key people and write minutes of what has been achieved against the plan. Assign actions and agree completion dates if required.
4. Write a checklist of all the actions to be completed on Go LIVE day and ensure this is distributed to your team and counterparties.
5. Have relevant IT people on call. A common area of trouble on "Go Live" day is firewall configurations.

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