Programmer Training and Development for the Small Shop

Managers must have a training procedure that not only educates new computer programmers thoroughly in both technical and user requirements of systems, but also requires a minimum of time and eliminates disruption to existing procedures and services. A 7-step procedure is proposed to improve programmer training: 1. Get an overview of the computer and operating system. 2. Obtain a high-level view of the data management systems and application programs. 3. Learn a programming language and special program implementation methods. 4. Spend a typical operations day with one or more users. 5. Use the test database. 6. Learn documentation standards and forms use. 7. Complete a test project. Appropriate mentors accompany the trainee during each phase. For example, for development of a test project, the mentor is the systems analyst, while the data processing librarian supervises the learning of documentation standards. Three case studies illustrate the successful use of the procedure.