System Engineering Approach to Training: SEAT© for Complex Technical Programs

Challenges with traditional instructional design

Traditional instructional design methodologies prove inefficient for large technological corporations to design training for technically complex, technologically advanced, large-scale, state-of-the-art product development. Mission-critical jobs like astronauts, pilots, nuclear technicians among others demand development of deeper level of proficiency in highly complex troubleshooting, decision making, design, and innovation skills. The rigor level offered by such instructional design methods is no match for the rigor level they use in designing products, technologies or services. Moreover, traditional instructional design is too rigid that its has its own inertia of development leading to longer time to proficiency for such critical jobs. 

The value of SEAT© Framework

The System Engineering Approach to Training [SEAT©] is a highly systematic framework of developing/designing training for large-scale highly complex products using system engineering methodologies already used by the designers and practitioners masterfully to design their products in such corporations. Without introducing meaningless training jargon and without having to learn a single new word about instructional design, this systems approach allows competent technical engineers to design any level of complex technical training programs with dexterity and efficiency.  

The framework advocates a systems approach which contains same tools already familiar to large-scale system engineers.  This framework extends applications of system engineering tools into complex training design. This framework offers “for engineers, by engineers, in an engineering way” tools based on the premise that “training is a product” (as opposed to traditional viewpoint of training as a process or service). 

Not only this methodology cut short the development time of a highly complex training program development by 50%, it also ensures laser-focused skill development in much shorter time. Technical engineers can design highly efficient and effective technical learning programs, without having to use traditional inefficient instructional design processes.

Is it for me?

Though the framework can be applied at any technical organization, the best results are attained for larger organizations in need to design large-scale technical training programs of higher order complexity. 

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