Web Conferencing Software for Training at a Hyper Market Store in Kingston Jamaica

Topic: Web conferencing tools have proven to be very effective mediums of communicating data and information in a cost effective manner. The purpose of this study is to introduce web conferencing as a proficient and cost effective training tool at a Hyper Market store in Kingston, Jamaica.Relevance and usefulness: With the introduction of web conferencing, the hypermarket store will have the ability to conduct brainstorming sessions, moderate webinars from any location, and prepare frequently updated strategic manuals that can be viewed at any time, and from anywhere. Web conferencing will also open windows of opportunity to meet with suppliers online to negotiate prices and special deals.Methodology: The instruments that will be used to assist in acquiring the data needed for the research are web conferencing demonstrations, video interviews and a questionnaire tool; tracer studies will also be conducted over a period of twelve months to assess the effects and achievements of web conferencing. The data collection exercise will be conducted over a three month period. Three male store Managers, two female team leaders and fifteen line staff (nine females and six males) from each store will be the subjects of the above mentioned instruments. The first month of the study will have each location being given two presentations to prepare for two training workshops. These workshops will be an informative presentation and a persuasive demonstration; these will be presented using web conferencing software. The BigBlueButton, Citrix GoToMeeting, and Microsoft Office Live Meeting will be used over a period of three weeks, and the fourth will be used for evaluating each software. The video interviews will be conducted at each store to garner the necessary data for the research; and the third month will see the use of a questionnaire being administered to gather more information.Findings: The findings will assist the Training Manager in selecting the most efficient and cost effective means of conducting training seminars and hosting discussion forums.Impact of Study: This study will cause the hypermarket store to not only use web conferencing as a training tool, but also to explore other purchasing options from new suppliers from other continents that they have never explored before. They will have the opportunity to meet with several suppliers at once to conduct negotiations. Persons should be more versed at hosting webinars and conducting training sessions