Program Overview
 


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Program Overview

How do I get involved?

Participants:
Class of 2001
Class of 2002
Class of 2003
Class of 2004
Class of 2005

Learning Resources

Current Class
Dates & Locations
Binder Materials
 
Team-based
Teamwork and support are critical for individual development and departmental improvements towards service excellence. The CSI is designed for five or six intact departmental teams to work and learn from one another. Each team is comprised of between four and seven participants. The CSI team will be most effective when the participants work closely together at the office.

Eight Sessions/Twelve Topic Areas
The Customer Service Institute relies upon intensive and comprehensive instruction to facilitate learning for participants and customer service enhancements for departments. There are eight sessions in the program spread out over five months. This includes six training sessions, a kick-off luncheon, and graduation. Participants, sponsors, and guests are all invited to the graduation ceremony at the end of the program. Graduating participants receive a Certificate of Completion; participants who miss a substantial number of classes may graduate with a Certificate of Participation.

Participants are expected to attend all sessions, but in cases of emergencies or prearranged days off, no more than two sessions can be missed without adversely impacting their graduation status. Participants who miss a substantial number of classes receive a Certificate of Participation.

Comprehensive Curriculum
The Customer Service Institute curriculum exemplifies the most critical areas of customer service. The CSI curriculum includes instruction and materials for twelve topics designed to greatly improve service excellence. These topics include:

  • Standards of Excellence
  • Mission, Vision, Values
  • Effective Communication
  • Professionalism for Success
  • Points of Service & Site Visits
  • Hearing from Customers
  • Handling the Difficult Customer
  • Value Chain
  • Workflow Analysis
  • Teambuilding
  • Customer Service in a Multicultural Environment
  • Turning Strategies into Results
The curriculum is built upon three pillars of customer service:
  • People
       Professional people are critical to providing quality service
  • Process
       Efficient processes and systems must be in place that support the functioning of a department
  • Culture
       A culture focusing on the customers and their needs must be:
    • Supported by management
    • Embodied by all employees
    • Recognized by customers
Expert Consultants
Expert consultants in the field of customer service have been carefully chosen to present specific topics. Our consultants have many years of experience and a great wealth of knowledge to pass along to all participants.

Professional Materials
Professional materials for each session are provided, along with supplemental information, including: articles, books reviews, and other learning opportunities. Participants are given materials at each session that they can store in their CSI binder. Participants are also required to complete assigned homework before each session.

Feedback
Feedback is essential to improve professionally. Participants are given feedback from their sponsor, their team members, the Master Teacher, and him/herself with a self-assessment.

Contact Us Today!
To get more information about the Customer Service Institute, or to find out how you/your department can become a participant in the next CSI, contact the Organizational Development & Learning Center at (203) 432-5660.