BFTP | Elevating Communications and Cultural Engagement Skills | Oracle

Elevating Communications and Cultural Engagement Skills | Oracle 

 

Oracle is a global technology company that offers IOT (Internet of Things, search it up) cloud solutions, and consultancy. If you like playing games, the game was most likely created with JAVA programming which is owned by Oracle (e.g. God of War, Castlevania, Minecraft). The services Oracle provides to its customers in associate with local IT (Information Technology) vendors and systems integrators is wide-ranging, including banking and finance, manufacturing, telecommunications, hospitality public services, commercial, utilities and oil & gas.

During lockdown, Craig ran a six-week programme designed to elevate the communications and cultural engagement skills of Oracle Malaysia’s locally based Australian and New Zealand team, to help them be more effective in the execution of their day to day interaction with prospects and clients. 

Because of the ongoing lockdown, face-to-face training could not be conducted, and training moved purely online. The training sessions were held twice a week for six weeks. The Oracle team would join from their homes, and Craig would guide them work through set activities, case studies, and problems. These sessions were a chance for the team to elevate their communications skills and to improve the way in which they relate to and interact with their prospects in Australia and New Zealand. This was a great pivot during the lockdown, as it meant training could continue even when the office was physically shut. As a technology solutions company, what better way than to embrace technology for a solution and ensure that things worked 'business-as-usual'.

 

There are limitations to online training that one can face. Craig noted, “Facilitating training during the harsh lockdown was an experience. Poor signal meant that on one occasion, I had to head to the carpark and facilitate the training from my phone, as that was the only signal I could receive. Participants also had signal issues, and that impacted upon participation at times. It was also the early days of Zoom; when we were still exploring (and waiting for) some of the key features. A knee-jerk shift from face-to-face to online training posed "learning curves" and meant that sessions were a little slower, and with less one-to-one mentoring/coaching that a physical class would have. However, all were overcome with teamwork and a positive attitude, especially from a motivated group.” Craig’s story really shows how professionals are trying to cope with the new norm, and just run with it for the best outcome possible. 

Craig mentioned that Oracle is of the biggest and most reputable global brands in its industry, and in his words, “I'd be an idiot not to work with them!”, when asked why Orchan took on Oracle as a client.