Assesment Of Human Resource Development Needs

Werner & DeSimone (2006) 1

Assessing HRD

Chapter 4


Why Do Needs Assessment?

Question:Why is needs assessment information critical to the development and delivery of an effective HRD program?


Needs Assessment

Figuring out what is really neededNot always an easy taskNeeds lots of inputTakes a lot of work“Do it now or do lots more later”First step in both the ISD and HRD process models


Product Development Model (PDM)

Analyze

Design

Develop

Produce Pilot

Evaluate

Deliver

ImproveBy permission: Doty, W.B. (1997) Product Development


The HRD Process: A DImE


Comparing the HRD Process Model to the PDM/ISD Model

HRD Process ModelAssessDesign

ImplementEvaluate

PDM/ISD ModelAnalyze needDesign trainingDevelopProduce pilotEvaluate pilotDeliver trainingImprove


What is a “Need?”

A discrepancy between expectations and performanceNot only “performance” needs involved


Various Types of Needs

PerformanceDiagnostic Factors that can prevent problems

from occurring (see p. 130)

Analytic Identify new or better ways to do

things

Compliance Mandated by law or regulation


Traps in Needs Assessment

Focusing only on individual performance deficiencies Doesn’t fix group of systemic

problems

Starting with a “Training Needs Assessment” If you know training is needed, why

waste everyone’s time?


Traps in Needs Assessment – 2

Using Questionnaires Hard to control input, often high

developmental costs, hard to write properly

Using soft data (opinions) only Need performance and consequence data

Using hard data only Easily measured data is provided, but

critical, hard-to-measure data is missing


Levels of Assessment

Organization Where is training needed and under

what conditions?

Task What must be done to perform the

job effectively?

Person Who should be trained and how?


Strategic/Organizational Analysis

A broad, “systems” view is needed

Need to identify: Organizational goals Organizational resources Organizational climate Environmental constraints


Why Strategic Assessment is Needed

Ties HRD programs to corporate or organizational goalsStrengthens the link between profit and HRD actionsStrengthens corporate support for HRDMakes HRD more of a revenue generator Not a profit waster


Sources of Strategic Information

Mission statementHRM inventorySkills inventoryQuality of Working Life indicatorsEfficiency indexesSystem changesExit interviews


Task Analysis

The collection of data about a specific job or group of jobsWhat employee needs to know to perform a job or jobs


How to Collect Information For a Task Analysis

Job descriptionsTask analysisPerformance standardsPerform jobObserve jobAsk questionsAnalysis of problems


A Sample Task Analysis Process

Develop job descriptionIdentify job tasks What should be done What is actually done

Describe KSAOs neededIdentify potential training areasPrioritize potential training areas


Task Analysis for HRD Position

1. List tasks 1. Observe behavior List four characteristics of behavior

Classify behavior

2. Select verb Knowledge of action verbs

Grammatical skills

3. Record behavior State so understood by others

Record neatly

2. List subtasks

1. Observe behavior List all remaining acts

Classify behavior

2. Select verb State correctly

Grammatical skills

3. Record behavior Neat and understood by others

3. List knowledge

1. State what must be known

Classify all information

2. Determine complexity of skill

Determine if a skill represents a series of acts that must be learned in a sequence

Job title: HRD Professional Specific duty: Task Analysis

Tasks Subtasks Knowledge and Skills Required

SOURCE: From G. E. Mills, R. W. Pace, & B. D. Peterson (1988). Analysis in human resource training and organizational development (p. 57). Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley. Reprinted by permission.


A Task Analysis Application

Question:You have been asked to perform a task analysis for the job of dispatcher in a city police department. Which method(s) of task analysis do you think are most appropriate for analyzing this job?


Person Analysis

Determines training needs for specific individualsBased on many sources of dataSummary Analysis Determine overall success of the

individual

Diagnostic Analysis Discover reasons for performance


Performance Appraisal

Relied on heavily in person analysisHard to doVital to company and individualShould be VERY confidentialBased too often on personal opinion


The Employee Appraisal Process

By Permission: Herbert & Doverspike (1990)


Performance Appraisal Process

Determine basis for appraisal Job description, MBO objectives, job

standards, etc.

Conduct the appraisalDetermine discrepancies between the standard and performanceIdentify source(s) of discrepanciesSelect ways to resolve discrepancies


Prioritizing HRD Needs

There are never enough resources availableMust prioritize effortsNeed full organizational involvement in this processInvolve an HRD Advisory Committee.


Warning!!

HRD cannot become a slow-acting bureaucracy!! “The Attack on ISD” article (Text p. 156)

HRD must respond to corporate needsHRD should be focused on “performance improvement,” and not just “training”


Summary

Why is needs assessment so often not performed in many organizations?

Why should organizations care about needs assessment?

Business

Assesment Of Human Resource Development Needs