Training Need Assessment Methodology

Need Assessment
A need assessment is the process of identifying performance requirement and the gap between what performance is required and what presently exists.

Training Need Assessment (TNA)

Training need assessment or analysis is a process in which a series of activities conducted to identify problems or other issues in the workplace and to determine whether training is an appropriate response.

Methods of identifying Training Need Interview

A meeting at which information is obtained from a person Webster The use of interviews in conducting the needs analysis is strongly urged. The prime value of interview guides is that they ensure the same types of data from all sources. This allows you to determine whether a piece of information is one persons opinion, or part of a widespread perception. Since the interview guide forces you to ask each worker a number of predetermined questions, you must select those questions that are essential to what you are trying to learn. Advantages Small numbers of interviews can be performed quickly and inexpensively (although not always) Can be conducted remotely Can be conducted in groups or individually Can be conducted with little notice, if needed

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Can be customized for different levels of users Confidentiality can be maintained to a high degree

Disadvantages Hard to conduct a good interview Easy to lead the respondent, with both verbal and nonverbal cues Easy to unknowingly ask loaded/personal questions Harder still to conduct a good group interview Herd mentality, Strong leader Hard to stay up and focused for a large number of interviews Data can be difficult to code and quantify Can be large differences between interviewers Expensive and time consuming to conduct large numbers of interviews Usually a low upper limit to the number of questions

Questionnaires
A set of questions for obtaining statistically useful or personal information from users Webster A questionnaire is a sort of interview on paper. You create your own questionnaire by writing down all the questions you want employees to answer for you. Then you mail it to them and await their responses. Questionnaires can be useful in obtaining a big picture of what a large number of employees think while allowing everyone to feel that they have had an opportunity to participate in the needs analysis process.

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Advantages Easy to administer Inexpensive Can be administered by untrained staff Can be administered remotely Can have a relatively large number of questions and data samples Can more easily target highly specific users Data can be simple to code

Disadvantages Difficult to construct a good test instrument Must know a priori exactly what you want to ask No follow-up questions Question intent may be open to interpretation Can result in unknown bad results Open ended responses highly variable Open ended questions are difficult to code Validation/verification difficult if study is not closely Controlled

Observational Research
An act of recognizing and noting a fact or occurrence. Webster In this approach, an employees performance itself is you source of information. You evaluate a workers performance through first-hand observation and analysis.

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The objective during observations is to identify both the strengths to build on and the deficiencies to overcome. A key advantage of using direct observation in the needs analysis is that you gain first-hand knowledge and understanding of the job being performed and the strengths and weaknesses of the relevant worker. Advantages Good for understanding complex needs Results are not defined by the design of the method Capable of capturing unknown or undocumented behaviors Can uncover inter-dependencies If documented appropriately, can review observations as many times as necessary Can provide expert/novice distinction

Disadvantages Some phenomenon is too infrequent to catch Can be more difficult to obtain a reviewable record Desired behavior may be interspersed with other unrelated activity Slow, expensive to collect data Can easily get off-target Data set can be overwhelming

Documentation
Before establishing a job description, a job analysis must be made. Job description is available in documentation form. By evaluating the performance it might be compare with the job description which helps to identify the problem by which training is needed.

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Advantages Easy to identify trouble spots Objective Easy to gather Minimal wastage of work time

Disadvantages Causes of problems may not be evident Focus on Past Inability to look at trends

Focus Group
A group of people selected for their particular skills, experience, views, or position are asked a series of questions about topic or issue to gather their opinions. Group interaction is used to obtain detailed information about a particular issue. Advantages Allow interaction between viewpoints Enhance buy in focus on consensuses Help group members become better listeners, analyzers, problem solvers

Disadvantages Are time-consuming for both groups Can produce data that is difficult to quantify

Tests
Another time-tested technique for gathering needs analysis material from employees is to conduct periodic problem solving conferences which may take the form of or be part

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of a plan for a new product, task or technology, or tied in with a training program it is always helpful to utilize an outside consultant to moderate such sessions. This outside sponsorship has a tendency of letting the workers express their feelings about his organization, and the session can then be geared to training needs. The current problems will evolve that represent potential areas for training. Advantages Direct application and Easy Easy to quantify Can be helpful in determining deficiencies in term of KSAOs

Disadvantages Validity issues, Authenticity of the test in general and under specific environmental conditions Inability to clearly gauge if the tested knowledge or skill is effectively used on the job.

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References:
E-Book Training Need Assessment by Judith Brown

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090320033845AAokgqM http://www.strath.ac.uk/aer/materials/3datacollection/unit5/advantagesanddisadvantageso fobservation/ http://www.faocopemed.org/old_copemed/reports/tna/method_pr.htm

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