Needs Analysis: The Who, What, When and Where of Training
In a nutshell, (needs) analysis is the planning we do in order to figure out what to do.
Allison Rossett, 1999
Needs analysis is the systematic basis for decisions about how to influence performance (Stout, 1995). This is where it all begins -- establishing relationships, exploring strategies, and defining solutions. The key is to seek the gap between the current situation and the desired situation and then to focus resources where they're most needed. The analysis must determine root causes. For example, a question about why something doesn't or won't work is just as critical as what people do and do not know.
Needs assessment then is a study conducted to determine the exact nature of an organizational problem and how it can be resolved. That needs assessment becomes the basis for wise recommendations about instruction and supporting organizational strategies, and for enlisting support throughout the organization.
Managers are often in too much of a hurry. They implement a solution which is sometimes, but not always, the correct intervention. This can prove to be an expensive error. The largest expense for human resources programs, by far, is attributable to the time spent by the participants in training programs, career development, and organization development activities. In training, costs due to lost production and travel time can be as much as 90-95% of the total program costs (Gilbert, 1988).
There are two ways to learn of training needs. The first method takes the proactive approach. An instructional designer goes into the system and searches for problems or potential problems. The goal is to make the system more efficient and ...
... middle of paper ...
...nowledge Management Meets Analysis. Training and Development, 53, pp. 62-68.
Rossett, Allison (1997). That was a great class, but… Training and Development, 51(7), pp. 18-24.
Rossett, Allison (1995). Needs assessment. In G.J. Anglin (ed.), Instructional Technology: Past, Present, Future (2nd edition) (pp. 183-196). Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, Inc.
Rossett, Allison (1991). When performance and instructional technologists talk: Dialog about impact, change and personal growth. Australian Journal of Educational Technology, 7(2), pp. 71-80.
Rossett, Allison (1989). Assess for success. Training and Development, 43(5), pp. 55-59.
Steadman, S.V. (1980). Learning to Select a Needs Assessment Strategy. Training and Development, 30, pp. 56-61.
Stout, D. (1995). Performance Analysis for Training, Niagra Paper Company, Niagra, WI
Asian’s and Black’s struggle with the legacies of cruelty which in turn has reduced the value of human life to dust—the residue from refugee, slavery, and loss; all ties in together as we view souls who live in such a colorful place, but who originally viewed the world as black and white. Toronto embodies 2.5 million faces with many of whom originate from various places of the worl...
Throughout the course of history, toys have played a fundamental role in entertaining and stimulating the minds of children. From inflated pig’s bladders and knucklebones in the ancient times to ‘Nerf guns’ and ‘Barbie’ dolls in the present day, their purpose is to encourage imagination and impart values through play. However, since the 1970’s, the seeds of gender discrimination were planted when toy companies started segregating their products based on social stereotypes. Upon walking into a local Toys ‘R’ Us store, one can distinguish the division of toys meant for boys and toys meant for girls based on the colours blue and pink and their contents. But on September 4 2013, Toys ‘R’ Us stores in the U.K. had announced that they would be neutralizing their gender based marketing. If a major toy retailer such as Toys ‘R’ Us, had publicly announced their effort to gender neutralize their stores, it further supports that this is a real issue as even a multi-billion dollar company supports the notion. However, this issue is still rampant in the world as most toy manufacturing companies are unwilling to produce gender neutral products due to the fear of losing revenue. Chris Bryne, content director for timetoplaymag.com said that the toy industry will perpetually mirror the culture (of society), and reflect it back in their products. (INSERT MLA http://bigstory.ap.org/article/some-parents-struggle-find-gender-neutral-toys) Therefore, the cycle of manufacturing toys that impart stereotypical gender roles will not end, until the general public demands for them. By encouraging the cycle to continue, it’s far reaching effects are allowed to persist – reinforcing stereotypical gender roles through toys fuels the problem of gender opressio...
Gender Socialization plays a big part in a child’s life in shaping their femininty and masculinity. Every child is brought with to have played with at least one toy to have called their own. Now, the purpose of the research that has been conducted is to take a further look into how toys that is sold through stores and played by children. This will then give hindsight as to how what is considered the gender norm has a part in gender role stereotyping and the affect these toys have on children view of gender characteristics.
The differences in the toys geared for boys in contrast to the toys geared towards girls are very different and have a strong influence in defining gender roles. Playing is one of the most effective and influential aspects to child development as they enhance both communicative, intellectual and social skills. Unfortunately, many times these toys are gender specific and set a foundation for gender roles and contribute to shaping children’s personality from a very young age. The toys are gender specific in terms of the colors, types, the images on the toys, how the toys are decorated along with what kinds of phrases or messages accompany the toy.
Miller, M. L. (2011). Introduction to Assessment and the Referral Process: Assessment [PowerPoint Slides]. Retrieved from http://drexel.blackboard.com/.
Puckett, M., & Black, J. (2008). Meaningful assessments of the young child. (3th ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.
Criterion 4: Allow for use and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative assessment information to develop a profile of the strengths and weaknesses of each student with gifts and talents to plan appropriate intervention (FULLY
Educational assessment has two primary functions. The first of these is to determine a student’s eligibility for special education services, as prescribed by the Individuals with Disabilities
Timmreck (2003) states that a needs assessment is used to, “Ascertain what resources, services, equipment, or other available items exist for use in the program being planned” (p.90). The administrator has to know what resources are available for use before designing the project and the needs assessment helps gather the information about the resources that are available for that project. Timmreck (2003) states that needs assessments are also used to “Survey, assess, evaluate and do research on what services or program exist and which services are missing” (p. 90). After the information becomes available to the administrator s/he can design the project effectively because now h/she know what service is needed and what resources are available to utilize. This information that the needs assessment provides is imperative to a project’s success and therefore makes the needs assessment an integral part of the planning process.
Organizations’ other resources can be hired, retained and discarded at any time but human resources needs special treatment. It needs to be carefully hired, deserve an extra effort to retain it and requires training & development to upgrade and improve its capabilities. Other resources depreciate with the passage of time but when the human resource gains more and more experience, it becomes more beneficial for the organizations. These characteristics have brought human resources to be the central element for the success of an organization. (Mohammed, Bhatti, Jariko, and Zehri, 2013, pg. 129, para. 2)
Define the current situation - break down problem into component parts, identify major problem areas, develop a target improvement goal
To combat these and other issues that can arise due to a lack of training, the development of a training program will wan...
On the basis of the identified needs, we can set goals on when to develop those skills, what are our intended results and the strategies to achieve them. My personal and professional development plan on the basis of the identified development needs is as follows:
Pierangelo, R. A., & Giuliani, G. A. (2013). Assessment in special education: A practical approach. (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Thurlow, Martha, and James Ysseldyke (2002). Including Students with Disabilities in Assessments. Washington, D.C.: National Educations Association.