Hotel Front Office Management, 3rd Edition

106 CHAPTER 4: PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMSFigure 4-5. Employees need time to practice using computer hardware and software. (Photocourtesy of Red Lion Hotels.)its best use. Training at the terminals should be preceded by an explanation of how thesystem will help staff members in their work. Some computer companies will lend adummy computer setup to a lodging property so that the staff can experiment with thetraining modules (Figure 4-5). This allows them to make mistakes in private and to becomefamiliar with the keyboard configuration. Documentation of procedures will alsoassist the staff in developing an awareness of the system’s capabilities, as will individualhotel-developed step-by-step computer application cue cards.It is also important to note that employee resistance to change can be overcome withan early buy-in to a new concept and a training program that is very user-friendly. Theteam concept will help employees to overcome resistance to change because they areincluded on the team. Members of the needs analysis team will see an idea develop fromconcept to fruition. Also, many employees resist change because they fear they will beunable to perform a new task. A training program that allows adequate time and practicewill help introduce technology.Backup Power SourcesWhat happens if the power goes out? This concern, as well as the possibility of brownouts,partial loss of electricity, or blackouts, total loss of electricity, has been addressedTLFeBOOK