Training Needs Assessment (Paperback)

Contents of the CD-ROM xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction 1

Chapter 1: What Is Needs Assessment? 3

What Is Needs Assessment? 5

Why Conduct a Needs Assessment? 5

Why Are Needs Assessments Valuable to an Organization? 6

How Are Training Needs Assessments Done? 6

What Is Involved in the Process of Conducting a Needs Assessment? 7

How Can You Convince Your Client to Invest in a Needs Assessment Effort? 9

How Can the Trainer Set Expectations and Gain Participation When Conducting a Needs Assessment? 10

Who Decides Which People Are Involved and What Measures Are Assessed? 10

How Are Problems and Barriers Overcome When Conducting a Needs Assessment? 11

Chapter 2: Is It a Training Need? How to Conduct a Performance Analysis 15

What Is Performance Analysis? 17

What Is the Purpose of Performance Analysis? 17

How Is Performance Analysis Conducted? 18

What Is Post-Training Performance Analysis? 23

What Are the Problems and Cautions When Conducting Performance Analysis? 33

What Needs to Be Done with the Information Collected? 33

Chapter 3: How to Gather Information 37

What Is the Purpose or Objective of Collecting the Information? 39

Where Can You Find Existing Information, or Does New Information Have to Be Gathered? 39

What Is the Difference Between Informal and Formal Information Collection? 40

What Are the Key Elements in Constructing Written Surveys? 42

What Are Different Forms for Survey Questions? 44

What Are Guidelines to Collect Statistically Significant Information? 58

When and Why Are Interviews Appropriate to Gather Information? 58

Chapter 4: Feasibility Analysis 61

What Is the Purpose of a Feasibility Analysis? 62

How Is a Feasibility Analysis Conducted? 62

Chapter 5: Needs Versus Wants Surveys 67

What Is a Needs Versus Wants Survey? 68

How Is It Conducted? 68

Who Should Do It and How to Interpret Results? 74

Chapter 6: Goal Analysis 77

What Is the Purpose of Goal Analysis? 78

How Is It Conducted? 78

Chapter 7: Task Analysis 83

What Is the Purpose of Task Analysis? 84

What Is the Difference Between Job Analysis and Task Analysis? 84

How Is It Conducted? 84

What Makes Conducting a Task Analysis Difficult? 86

What Is Done with the Results of a Task Analysis? 86

Chapter 8: Target Population Analysis 91

What Is the Purpose of Target Population Analysis? 92

How Is Target Population Analysis Conducted? 92

What Types of Decisions Are Made from the Results of a Target Population Analysis? 96

Chapter 9: Contextual Analysis 99

What Is Contextual Analysis? 100

How Will the Training Be Delivered? 100

When Will the Training Be Presented? 105

What Are the Other Requirements to Deliver the Training? 106

Chapter 10: Develop and Present a Training Plan to Management 109

What Is in a Ten-Part Training Plan? 110

How Is a Plan Presented to Management to Gain Approval? 117

Needs Assessment Competencies 121

Training Planner Competencies 139

Glossary 161

Bibliography 164

Index 167

About the Author 171

How to Use the CD-ROM 172

Pfeiffer Publications Guide 174