Why Customized Online Training Might Be More Effective than Open Workshops

Are you looking for a way to improve your skills and knowledge in Competitive and Market Intelligence (CI/MI)?
Do you want to learn from the best experts and practitioners in the field?
Do you want to get certified and recognized for your professional development?

If your answer is yes to any of these questions, the open workshops and certifications on CI/MI of the ICI is just what you are looking for! We offer a total of 22 open workshops that cover almost every skill a CI/MI professional needs, from research and analysis to management and strategy. If you want to specialize in a certain area of CI/MI, you can apply for one of our 6 certificates

But what if you have specific needs or goals that are not covered by our open workshops or certifications? What if you are looking for a more personalized and tailored learning experience that fits your schedule, budget, and industry? In that case, we would like to introduce our customized online training option to you. In this blog post, you will learn what customized online training is, how it works, and why it could be more effective than open workshops for some learners. 

What is Customized Online Training and How Does it Work?

Customized online training is a flexible and adaptable way of learning CI/MI skills and methods that are relevant and applicable to your situation. You can choose from three types of customized online training:

• Customized training: You can select different modules from our open workshops and combine them into a customized curriculum that suits your needs and interests.
• Customized training with industry-specific case studies: You can also add industry-specific case studies to your customized training to make it more realistic and practical.
• Rent-a-faculty: You can book one of our faculty members on an hourly rate as a coach, sparring partner, or expert to audit and improve your daily processes, provide feedback and guidance, or answer your questions.
• Coaching: Over a longer period of time, private sessions are being scheduled (online or on-site) to help you getting to the next level of competitive intelligence or to be advised on a certain project you are working on. This can be combined with participating in open workshops against a special rate.

Customized online training is delivered through a variety of formats and methods, such as e-learning, on-site training, webinars, podcasts, etc. You can also interact and communicate with your instructor and peers through online platforms and tools. You can decide the duration, frequency, and intensity of your customized online training according to your schedule and availability.

What are the Benefits of Customized Online Training over Open Workshops?

Customized online training has several advantages over open workshops, such as:

• Higher relevance and applicability: You only learn the skills and methods that you need for your specific situation. You can also apply them to real-life scenarios and challenges that you face in your industry or organization.
• Efficiency and productivity: Online training allows you to learn at your own pace and convenience. You’ll  save time and money on travel and accommodation costs. You can also practice and refine the skills and methods in exercises that are designed to enhance your learning outcomes.
• Engagement and retention: In-house training allows you to have more specific Q&A sessions with your instructor. You will be able to review your processes and examples with them. You can also get feedback and support from your peers who share similar goals or challenges.
• Innovation and creativity: Customized online training will help you discover new perspectives and insights that can inspire you to improve your performance and results. You can also learn from the latest trends and best practices in CI/MI.

What are the Challenges and Solutions of Customized Online Training?

Customized online training is not for everyone. It depends on your level of experience, learning objectives, and preferences. Here are some factors to consider before choosing customized online training:

• If you are new to CI/MI and want to get an overview of the field, then our CI/MI Basics course might be a better fit for you. It will give you a solid foundation of the concepts and principles of CI/MI.
• If you know exactly what you are looking for in terms of CI/MI skills or methods, then one of our fundamental or advanced workshops might include everything you need. You can also choose from our specialized certifications if you want to focus on a specific area of CI/MI.
• If you want to think out of the box and be prepared for future tasks, then open workshops might be more suitable for you. You can benefit from the diversity of industries and backgrounds of the participants. You can also learn from each other’s experiences and challenges. While in-house training might encourage you to stick to your routine or comfort zone.

Here are some general guidelines when planning a customized online training:

• Stay focused: We recommend at least 4 hours of training per week with additional exercises to stay focused and keep the momentum. Too much or too little training might affect your motivation or retention.
• Plan for time to practice and prepare: We use real-life case studies for our training, so reading them in advance is key for an effective learning experience. Our exercises are also essential to apply the skills and methods. This is the difference between knowing and mastering a skill or method.
• Communicate and collaborate: Customized online training is not a one-way street. You need to communicate and collaborate with your instructor and peers to get the most out of it. You need to share your feedback, questions, and concerns. You also need to be open to new ideas and suggestions.

Conclusion

• So, it’s your decision: Are you the open workshop type or the customized online training type?
• Depending on the group size, there is usually a clear answer on what is more cost-efficient. However, customized online training might help you with a very specific task, and sometimes a coach might lead you the right way in a few hours, where an open workshop might be oversized.
• If you need to learn something from scratch, if you want to broaden your horizons and be ready for future challenges, then open workshops or even a certification might be the right choice for you.
• If you are interested in customized online training, please contact us and we will be happy to design a program that meets your needs and expectations. We look forward to hearing from you soon!