Merced Systems Training Services
Merced Systems Education Services offer a range of training courses for administrators, analysts, and end users. Courses are designed to help customers and partners maximize their investment in Merced Systems’ Sales Performance Management and Service Performance Management solutions. Custom WorkshopsWe also offer custom workshops that may span a range of topics and options. For example,
Please contact training@mercedsystems.com if you are interested in scheduling a custom training workshop. We can help you assess your training gaps and design a custom workshop that will fit your needs.
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2012 Customer Training Schedule
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Course Descriptions - MPS
MPS Concepts
This course is an in-depth review of Merced Performance Suite concepts and features. Its aim is to prepare all resources involved in MPS projects or ongoing system support with a broad overview of MPS features and product terminology from both an end-user and administrator perspective.
This course is often scheduled as part of the MPS Project Kickoff. Attendance at a Project Kickoff which includes this course on the agenda precludes the need to attend the online version of this course.
Please note that this course does not include configuration steps such as how to create a metric or report.
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In this course, attendees will learn how to create reports and dashboards through a step-by-step demonstration of the administrative tools that control the configuration of these items. Attendees will also learn the basics of working with content that is configured using the front-end user interface. Additionally, how to control access to the content and where to publish it is included in this course.
This course combines lecture-style information with interactive elements and at the end, attendees are provided with self-paced exercises to try on their own using a practice training instance that they will be given access to.
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The primary focus of this course is metrics. From setting up base metrics to creating calculated metrics, including metrics represented with graphics or colors, this course is a step-by-step introduction to the tools that support metric configuration. The creation of alerts based on metric values (OLAP alerts) is also covered in this course.
This course combines lecture-style information with interactive elements and at the end, attendees are provided with self-paced exercises to try on their own using a practice training instance that they will be given access to.
Please note that this course does not cover forms-related workflows.
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This course is an introduction to the MPS back-end configuration environment and uses hands-on exercises to teach developers how to configure basic DICE conversions (data load processes) and simple forms. Other topics covered in this course include how to build hierarchies, dimensions, transactional reports and transactional searches. Advanced metric calculations are also examined in this course.
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Populating and managing hierarchy data is an essential task in MPS. This course teaches how to use the Hierarchy Manager to support the Person and other hierarchies in the system. Through a series of interactive demonstrations, attendees will learn how to search for, edit, and create new hierarchy records using the front-end user interface and through the use of Excel spreadsheets for offline editing. They will also learn how to use the temporal editor to adjust the history of temporal attributes and identity values. At the end, attendees are provided with self-paced exercises to try on their own using a practice training instance that they will be given access to.
Please note that if your MPS system is running MPS version 3.7.x or earlier, this course will cover some features that are not available in these versions. However, we still recommend attending this course as our instructors will be able to point out where the differences are for groups that are on MPS version 3.7 or earlier.
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Targeting the IT and development-related roles, this course covers MPS system maintenance tasks (system monitoring, performance) and application support tasks (troubleshooting configuration and data issues).
This course is typically scheduled in conjunction with the MPS Configuration: Data Loads and Workflow course since knowledge of how data load processes are configured provides a good background for those who are responsible for monitoring data jobs and troubleshooting data issues on a regular basis. This course also happens to be required for those responsible for configuring data loads and forms since application support knowledge directly aids in configuration of data loads and forms in MPS.
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End-User Training courses focus on the frontline and other non-administrative users of MPS. In other words, how do you use MPS for your everyday responsibilities?
Using MPS
This is a train-the-trainer session in which a Merced expert guides a select person or group of people on how to train frontline and management employees on what they can and are expected to do with the MPS system. Emphasis is placed around basic use of reports, dashboards, alerts, and forms and the content reflects the design specific to your MPS environment so that end-users have an accurate picture of what they will use.
Prior to the train-the-trainer session, the Merced instructor will work the necessary parties (customer contacts, Client Service and Business Consulting representatives, etc.) to ensure that a training outline is tailored to your needs. Using that information, the Merced instructor will create and present to you during the session a set of baseline deliverables (presentations, agendas, job aids, etc.) that you can update and use in your training sessions with end-users.
The expected outcome for this course is that your trainers are given the tools and knowledge to then devise and execute training programs for your workforce.
Due to the amount of preparation required for this course, it is recommended that Merced Training Services is contacted at least 8-10 weeks prior to the desired train-the-trainer session date so that dates can be reserved and the instructor can begin the process of preparing the training content.
Using Coaching Plus
Meant as an add-on to Using MPS, this course adds Coaching Plus-related fundamentals to the agenda during the train-the-trainer session. Since every customer utilizes the Coaching Plus modules differently, the scope of these topics are also adjusted based on preliminary discussions that the Merced instructor will have with you and your Client Service and Business Consulting representatives. Content stemming from these discussions is then incorporated into the baseline deliverables that are delivered in conjunction with the Using MPS session.
Using Analyst Workbench
For customers who have purchased the Analyst Workbench (AWB) add-on module to MPS, Merced will directly train analysts who are expected to use the module in this course. This should be scheduled shortly after the production rollout since a working AWB module with MPS data is required to conduct this class.
The course will show analysts how to use the various features of AWB using hands-on exercises.
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Whether it’s a topic not covered in an existing training course or due to special scheduling circumstances, sometimes it is necessary to request a custom workshop from Merced Training Services. It is our pleasure to work with you in these situations to build an agenda tailored to your organization’s training needs.
Our custom workshops can span a range of topics and options, from combining standard training classes with custom topics to doing a side-by-side configuration session to working with you on a design, we would like to offer our services in these areas. For these sessions, a Merced Instructor or Client Services expert will be on hand to deliver what you need.
Please contact training@mercedsystems.com if you are interested in scheduling a custom training workshop.
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Merced Systems also offers training to help your organization succeed with performance management. These courses focus on business principles and best practices for implementing performance management-oriented solutions. Topics may include but are not limited to:
- Seven Essentials to Project Success
- Segmentation
- Coaching to Behaviors
Please contact your Merced Customer Success representative(s) if you are interested in topics such as these.
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Course Descriptions - Merced ICM
ICM Concepts
This course is an in-depth review of Incentive Compensation Management concepts and features. Its aim is to prepare all resources involved in ICM projects or ongoing system support with a broad overview of ICM features and product terminology from both an end-user and administrator perspective.
This course is often scheduled as part of the Project Kickoff. Attendance at a Project Kickoff which includes this course on the agenda precludes the need to attend the online version of this course.
Please note that this course does not include configuration steps such as how to create a plan or calculator.
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ICM Dataports
This course covers theory and "how-to" basics for the creation and management of dataports through a step-by-step demonstration of the administrative tools that control the configuration of these items.
Hands-on exercises highlighting various business scenarios help cement the newly acquired knowledge and provide an opportunity to discuss and explore scenarios common to attendees.
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ICM Plans and Calculators
This course covers theory and "how-to" basics for the creation and management of plans and calculators through a step-by-step demonstration of the administrative tools that control the configuration of these items.
Hands-on exercises highlighting various business scenarios help cement the newly acquired knowledge and provide an opportunity to discuss and explore scenarios common to attendees.
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ICM Reporting
This course covers theory and "how-to" basics for the creation and management of reports and statements through a step-by-step demonstration of the administrative tools that control the configuration of these items.
Hands-on exercises highlighting various business scenarios help cement the newly acquired knowledge and provide an opportunity to discuss and explore scenarios common to attendees.
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ICM Configuration Workshop
Immediately following the basic “how to” configuration courses (ICM Dataports, ICM Plans & Calculators, and ICM Reporting), this hands-on workshop evaluates the attendee’s knowledge by running through an end-to-end configuration exercise applied to a very specific business scenario.
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Processing Compensation
Targeting the Compensation team, this highly customized course, based on the Operations Guide delivered by the implementation team, reviews day-to-day commission processing activities (disputes, adjustments, research, analytics), including period & year-end tasks (releasing statements and payments, closing the financial year, updating plan new rates).
Hands-on exercises highlighting various business scenarios help cement the newly acquired knowledge and provide an opportunity to discuss and explore scenarios common to attendees.
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Payee Training
Using a train-the-trainer approach, this custom course prepares trainers to successfully deliver training to all payees: “How do I read my statement? Raise a dispute? Stack up against my peers?”
Hands-on exercises tailored to the payees highlight common payee tasks.
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ICM Support
Targeting the IT/Support roles, this course covers periodic maintenance tasks, such as system monitoring and system tuning, and exception-based application support tasks such as troubleshooting configuration & data issues.
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ICM Advanced Configuration
For customers looking to take full ownership of their configuration, this course offers a deep dive into advanced features for data loads, plans, calculators, payees and hierarchies, reporting and statements. Examples include PL/SQL data loads, XSLT reports or statements, or building custom menus using the API.
Hands-on exercises highlighting various business scenarios help cement the newly acquired knowledge and provide an opportunity to discuss and explore scenarios common to attendees.
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