I am a big fan of solution-based training. This is where we learn about technology by actually building something useful to see the capabilities. Too many times we see training that is based on a single product and a series of features. But we fail to see the big picture.
Back in 2005, I was given the task of developing a course for Global Knowledge based on SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services. Based on feedback from customers, we could see an increased demand for SSAS training. Microsoft had committed huge resources to the analysis side of the product and being included in the SQL Server licensing many people were interested in the capabilities.
But as I started scoping out the project, I realized that Microsoft was marketing the full Business Intelligence “solution” not just SSAS by itself. The three phases of this solution were Integration, Analysis and Reporting. By renaming the new DTS to Integration Services, Microsoft could call on SSIS, SSAS and SSRS together to deliver a BI solution. So instead of developing three isolated courses for each component I was more interested in using the products together to develop a full solution. I changed the scope of the project and the new course became SQL Server 2005 for Business Intelligence for a full five day curriculum. In this course, we would design and populate a Data Warehouse using SSIS, build a high performing multi-dimensional “cube” using SSAS and produce attractive web-based results using SSRS. By the end of the course, you could claim that you had built a BI solution from “soup to nuts”.
The strategy paid off as we saw a good demand for this new training course and we continue to get good feedback from customers. We added Microsoft Office and PerformancePoint Server 2007 as additional ways of exposing the cube to end users but essentially it is still the original solution-based course.
As Kevin Costner learned in “Field of Dreams” sometimes you just have to take that leap of faith: “If you build it, they will come”.
Cheers
