They then are paired with an experienced team member to work on actual projects. Staples, the Framingham, Mass.-based office supplies retailer, strongly emphasizes to its employees the need to teach and learn from others. According to David Guillotte, Staples' director of technical services, for Staples employees to advance within the company they must demonstrate that they can add value at the next level. Instilling the leadership behaviors needed to succeed in a fast-paced environment happens also through formal training at Staples University, the company's onsite executive training program. The teaching habit extends downward.
Midlevel managers lead seminars on development standards, practices or emerging technologies.
This practice fuels another significant component of Staples' extensive training program, the onsite technology seminar for IT staff. Seminars open up subject matter to people who may want information, but not the in-depth training needed to actually work with the tools. Staples' manager of IS training, Sandy King, will work with senior managers to decide on the relevant topics and the best teacher. Sometimes the teacher is a consultant, other times a vendor. Often their own internal technical experts will teach subjects such as frame relay or satellite communications standards.