High level basic information on Needs Assessment. Presented using a case study and includes templates.

1. Basic of Needs Assessment for Learning and Development
Professional Development Series For New Learning Professionals
©Janus Consulting 2014

2. Basic Needs Assessment for Learning and Development
Janus Consulting © 2014
A successful learning and development
program requires an effective and well
designed needs assessment. This
presentation will discuss the elements of a
thorough needs assessment and share
guidelines and tips to assist you in ensuring
your learning recommendations align with
the business goals as well as the learners
needs.
You’ll find tools and resources throughout
that you can use in your day to day work
and activities you can try.
Click here to read the Case Study we’ll use as we
go through this presentation.

3. Basic Needs Assessment for Learning and Development
Janus Consulting © 2014
A needs assessment is a systematic
approach to identifying gaps. Learning and
Development Professionals are often
approached by the Lines of Business they
support with an identified need. This may
or may not be the case. The Learning
Development Professional engages in an
accepted methodology and strategically
examines the “gap” through needs
assessment.
They gather information on the audience,
the gap, the required change in the gap, the
impact the change will have to the business
and identify the means to achieve
knowledge transfer.
Defining Needs Assessment

4. Basic Needs Assessment for Learning and Development
Janus Consulting © 2014
Determining effective solutions and
recommendations involves looking at the
current state and future state.
Also there are levels to assess:
• Organizational
• Occupational
• Individual
Defining Needs Assessment

5. Basic Needs Assessment for Learning and Development
Janus Consulting © 2014
The goal of assessing the organizational
level is to gain a line of sight on the
performance , knowledge, skills and
behaviours required to move the
organization forward.
This piece of your assessment identifies
what is needed to bridge the gap as well as
enhance existing strengths.
You take into consideration internal and
external information such as large scale
change initiatives, political and economical
impacts.
Needs Assessment- Organizational Level

6. Basic Needs Assessment for Learning and Development
Janus Consulting © 2014
The goal of assessing the occupational level
is to determines the performance,
knowledge , skills and behaviours of a
particular line of business or occupational
group.
This piece of your assessment identifies the
particular gaps and why these gaps exist.
The occupational assessment begins to
frame new ways of doing things and what is
needed from a learning and development
perspective.
Needs Assessment- Occupational Level

7. Basic Needs Assessment for Learning and Development
Janus Consulting © 2014
The goal of assessing the individual level is
to identify how an individual completes
work.
It identifies the capacity for the work and
what the individual needs to potentially do
the work differently, take on new work, or
improve existing performance.
Needs Assessment- Individual Level

8. Basic Needs Assessment for Learning and Development
Janus Consulting © 2014
Determining the benefit of the needs
assessment and communicating the
benefits to your stakeholders is the first
step in the process.
In this phase of your needs assessment you
determine your business partners,
champions and strategy for soliciting
support.
Needs Assessment Process- Garner Support

9. Basic Needs Assessment for Learning and Development
Janus Consulting © 2014
You are also identifying the and framing the
critical success factors and the objectives
they meet.
Last, you are framing and identifying the
critical success factors for sustainability for
each of your desired outcomes.
Click the document icons to the right for an
example from our case study and a
template to utilize when thinking through
your strategy for garnering support.
Needs Assessment Process- Garner Support
Sample from Case Study Template

10. Basic Needs Assessment for Learning and Development
Janus Consulting © 2014
The next step in the journey of needs
assessment is the planning. The activities
you’ll complete here are vital in identifying
and providing strong , effective
recommendations. It is very important to
gauge organizational readiness for any
learning and development projects and
have a solid look at any required resources
such as people, and technology.
Identifying program goals and objectives
for your needs assessment and reviewing
any existing information will help you
create a project plan and milestones and
measurements of success.
Needs Assessment Process - Plan
Click the icons above for a sample from the case study
and a template you can use.

11. Basic Needs Assessment for Learning and Development
Janus Consulting © 2014
Executing your needs assessment involves
any number of methods and is driven by
your planning and type of project.
Your date collection could include:
• Document review of existing information
• Interviews
• Surveys
• Observation
• Focus Groups
• Performance Reviews
Be sure to include a variety of data so that
you can truly identify the current and future
state.
Needs Assessment Process - Execute

12. Basic Needs Assessment for Learning and Development
Janus Consulting © 2014
Once you have compiled your data your next step
is to analyze and report on it. This information
now forms the basis of your high level design and
evaluation plans.
Your report can be presented in full to your
business partners or annotated based on
organizational preference and approach.
Your report should include:
• Executive Summary
• Business Challenge
• Impact to the Business
• Initial Recommendation
• Data Analysis
• Final Recommendations
• Project plan
• Next Steps
Needs Assessment Process - Report
Click the report above to read the results from the
Case Study and for a template you can use.

13. Basic Needs Assessment for Learning and Development
Janus Consulting © 2014
This presentation provides a high level
picture of defining Needs Assessment and
the process of completing a thorough,
effective analysis.
Taking the time to work through Needs
assessment prepares you and your team for
much more efficient development , design
and valuable evaluation.
For more detailed information on Needs
Assessment visit my Moodle Course and
refer to the Resources included on the next
page.
Needs Assessment Process - Summary
Click the report above to read the results from the
Case Study and for a template you can use.

14. Basic Needs Assessment for Learning and Development
Janus Consulting © 2014
Resources
A Practical Guide to Needs Assessment Gupta, Sleezer, Russ-Efy
ISBN-10: 0787982725 ISBN-13: 978-0787982720
Needs Assessment Alchuld, Kumar
ISBN-10: 1412975840 ISBN-13: 978-1412975841
Planning and Conducting Needs
Assessments
Witkin
ISBN 0803958102, 9780803958104
Moodle Course: The Basics of Needs Assessment Contact for information