TimelyText Case Study: ABB

Solution

TimelyText was the perfect match.

Since launching SDIP in 2009, Hudepohl has relied on TimelyText lead Jessica Spells Thompson to coordinate a small team of designers that delivers dozens of webinars each year.

ABB sought outside help because webinar development is episodic in nature at ABB and its instructional design team focuses largely on training for ABB customers. “We wouldn’t be their first priority,’’ says Hudepohl, who also needed a contracting arrangement that included someone to lead the effort.

TimelyText Vice President Adrian West recruited Spells Thompson—who has a doctorate in instructional technology and expertise in adult learning theory—for that role. She had previously worked for other TimelyText clients, including Sensus, and has run her own consulting practice.

For Spells Thompson, working through TimelyText ensures she always has three to four well-trained instructional designers needed to fulfill ABB’s needs. In addition, TimelyText sourced a freelance corporate communications contractor who polished the ICSE presentation paper, edited training promotional emails, found outlets to share ABB’s SDIP success story, and wrote internal case studies for ABB’s SDIP website.

Results

The training has been recognized inside and outside the company. Employee surveys show a 98 percent approval rate, and the no-show rate for classes is half the industry average. Such compelling approval means ABB unit managers are happy to fund the program.

An SDIP paper on the program’s success was accepted by the prestigious International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE), and the American Society for Training & Development—now known as the Association for Talent Development (ATD)—ran an article by Hudepohl on the program’s success.

“TimelyText delivers high-quality contractors who provide us outstanding content and facilitation,’’ says Hudepohl, who first worked with TimelyText at his previous job at Nortel Networks. Despite that previous connection, TimelyText competed against several companies for the ABB work.

Potential contractors produced one webinar under mini-contracts.

“TimelyText’s contractors immediately understood what we were looking for and delivered on it,’’ Hudepohl notes. “They blew the other contractors out of the water.’’