Monday 30 April 2007

Training Need Analysis

Introduction
One of the main objectives of the management in any business organization is to enhance the employee's skills to optimize performance and reinforce the employee's ability to take on broader responsibilities; or changes in the organization's functions which require your staff to develop new skills and abilities to meet such changes and developments.

A training needs assessment can provides information on:

  • Where are you now?
  • Where do you want to be?
  • What education or training do you need to get?
  • Who within the organization requires training?
  • Is training the answer? Or does something else need to be addressed?
  • What knowledge or skills are lacking?
  • What the content of the training should be?
  • What are the expected outcomes of the learning?
  • What timing, financial and human resources need to be considered?
  • How will you know if the learning has made a difference?
There are several primary needs analysis models used in the training and human resource development profession. These models include:
· Robert Mager's Model of Analyzing Performance Problems,
· Allison Rossett's Training Needs Assessment Model, and
· Many, many others.

Steps for Conducting the Training Needs Assessment
Step 1: Performing “GAP" analysis.
Step 2: Identifying priorities and importance.
Step 3: Identifying causes of performance problems and/or opportunities.
Step 4: Identifying possible solutions and growth opportunities
Step 5: Generating and communicating recommendations for training and development, organization development, career development, and/or other interventions to the concerned authority.

Training Needs Assessment Techniques

The Training Needs Assessment Techniques is a combination of some of the following tools, used as appropriate:
· Direct observation
· Questionnaires
· Consultation with persons in key positions, and/or with specific knowledge
· Review of relevant literature
· Interviews
· Focus Groups
· Tests
· Records & report studies
· Work samples
· Customer Complaints