Summary - Needs assessment by Rossett

I picked this article on the basis that I intend to do a needs evaluation. I found Allison Rossett easy to read and the scenarios she used, I could relate to.

Needs Assessment By Allison Rossett - Summary

Rossett give a general overview of needs assessment with the emphasis on occupational instructional training. She give a number of example that are corporate based – one that runs through the whole discussion is of soft and limp French fries in a fast food joint.
She defines it as “needs assessments gather information to assist professionals in making data-driven and responsive recommendations about how to solve the problem or introduce the new technology. While needs assessment may lead to the development of instruction, it does not always do so. The important role that needs assessment plays is to give us information, at the beginning of the effort, about what is needed to improve performance. She defines five purposes for doing needs assessments

1. To define Optimal performance
2. To find out what is happening with actual performance
3. To know how learners feel about
4. To find the cause of performance problems
   a. Lack the skill or knowledge
   b. The environment is in the way
   c. There are no or improper incentives
   d. Lack of motivation
5. To find solutions
   

Rossett then talk about how to conduct a needs assessment giving 5 steps

1. Determine purpose based on Initiators
   a. Performance problems
   b. New stuff/technologies
   c. Mandates from above
2. Identify sources
3. Select tools
   a. Interviewing
   b. Observing performance
   c. Examine records and outcomes
   d. Facilitating groups
   e. Surveying through questionnaires
4. Conduct the needs assessment in stages
5. Use findings for decision making.
   

In her conclusion she remarks the
“Deciding to observe interview or survey isn't the hard part. The challenge is to determine sources, plan stages of assessment , and frame questions that will enable a professional to move crisply form a general problem with limp French fries to a series of actions and recommendations that will guarantee yummy ones. “