Dell

The challenge

With the introduction of Microsoft's Windows Server 2008 and HyperV technology, Dell needed to skill and certify its EMEA team of Senior Solution Architects.

Working within its Global Infrastructure and Consulting Services Division, this senior team would ultimately lead the architecture and implementation of Dell's key customer deployments in these technologies. As a result, they needed training at a very early stage, prior to the release of the products to market.

Central to Dell's customer proposition, and offering around Windows Server 2008 solutions, was to have a credible team of leading Architects who at a base level would all become certified to Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) level and then a second senior team of Architects who would become (MCITP) Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator Certified.

The solution

QA worked closely with both Dell and Microsoft to develop a unique training programme. Key to the programme was combining best-practice knowledge transfer with certification. As the consultants were based around EMEA and could not easily return as a group into a classroom or local Exam testing centre, QA designed the programme to provide flexible solutions:

• Speed to market: the programme delivered training content on leading edge Windows Server 2008 beta Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) materials before they were generally released
• The training combined MOC content tailored with Dell's own material particularly around Dell's Windows Server 2008 Active Directory and Virtualisation solutions
• Inclusion of Dell 'Best Practice': in addition to Dell's own technology IP, the training also covered content on how Dell would sell and position their 'Best Practice' solutions
• 'Just in time' Certification - mobile exam classrooms were set up so that candidates could became certified at the end of each course from the variety of locations around Europe

The training content focused on the accelerated delivery of the following Windows Server 2008 MOC courses and certifications via a four stage delivery programme:

Stage 1: MCTS training  for all 25 Architects, allowing them to all become certified as:

• MCTS in Windows Server 2008 Active Directory
• MCTS in Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuration
• MCTS in Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure

Stage 2: MCITP training for 15 Senior Architects

• Three MOC courses delivered as an accelerated 5 day course - leading to 15 delegates from Stage 1 being certified in MCITP in Windows Server 2008, Enterprise  Administration
  
  

Stage 3: HyperV training for 25 Senior Architects

• Tailored delivery of MOC course materials combined with Dell IP HyperV materials and solutions

Stage 4: Systems Centre Virtual Machine Manager training for 25 Senior Architects

• Certification in MCTS System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008

The success of the training programme was not just simply training and certifying these key individuals - it was the scalability of the programme and how it gave Dell the platform it needed to have team of skilled, certified professionals who could go and win and deliver customer deployments on Windows Sever 2008 and aligned technologies - including System Centre Enterprise Suite, Vista and Exchange Sever 2007.

The benefits

"The Microsoft Windows Server 2008 training and certification programme has been a tremendous success story for Dell. The objective of the training programme was to create a leading edge senior team of subject matter experts who would have the necessary skills to enable us to be first to market in architecting and building customer solutions around this technology set.

"Having a leading team of certified consultants was an important part of our strategy and I believe has been instrumental in helping the number of customer wins and successes we have had in this area.

"Working with QA exceed all my expectations - they are an innovative partner with leading edge delivery skills, who have worked incredibly hard to ensure the whole training programme, both for the individuals involved and for the impact it has had on the wider business, has been a complete success."- Terry Storey - Senior Solution Architect-Microsoft, Global Infrastructure Consulting Services at Dell Solutions