| Needs Assessment Analyses |
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Organizations today, stressed by enormous competitive pressures, often jump into action before stepping back and analyzing exactly what action is most appropriate. This translates into programs and human resource systems designed and delivered by “crisis” management, often without integration with other organizational activities. A needs assessment can be used to determine the extent of a specific issue or concern and to plan a way to address that issue. Alternatively, and more appropriately in our experience, such a process can be applied in a broader context. In the training function, for example, this might include analyzing an entire “learning” curriculum needs and priorities to form the basis of an implementation plan. In organizational consulting a needs assessment can provide the foundation for changing structures business processes and roles, or improving intergroup collaboration, or changing work approaches or culture. In each of these examples, a needs assessment is a cost-effective approach to minimize the likelihood of misspent resources and of inappropriate solutions. It also tends to expand the number of techniques used to gather information and reduce dependence on one or two favorite strategies. Thus, CDS uses a variety of diagnostic tools for assessing organizational development or training and development needs. |
