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Microsoft Office 2007 is a complete redesign of the suite, so users have to learn how to use it. The fully revised user interface (UI) means that Companies large and small with early versions of Office 2007 are studying how to teach millions of workers how to relearn a tool that every day processes the reports, calculates the finances and displays the sales plans of thousands of businesses around the world. Companies figure that employees will need a combination of online and in-person training. For instance, TRW Automotive Holdings COO Joe Drouin says the company incrementally upgraded versions of Office to promote employee adaptation, but more planning and training will now be needed. Other executives agree, and Forrester Research estimates that most businesses will shift to Office 2007 in three to five years. In the interim, companies seek ways to help employees make the shift, including new online training offerings, in-house courses, and external training specialists. Forrester analyst Kyle McNabb estimates that lower productivity related to training sessions will last between two to four weeks. Richard Losciale, president of Premier Knowledge Solutions, which is a software training specialist, says new contextual tabs on the Ribbon that replace toolbars will confuse people, but once familiar with them, users will find Office 2007 to be faster and easier to use than earlier versions.
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