How do I define training needs?
Carefully and thoroughly.
"We need training" is not a training need.
You'd never just tell a vendor, "We need hardware." You'd specify what
hardware you need or you'd specify what you need to accomplish and ask
the vendor for recommendations. Training is no different. Of all the training-related
activities you might perform, accurately defining your needs is probably
the single most important.
These questions will get you
started:
1. What must trainees
know or be able to do upon completion of the training?
These are your training objectives, and until you can answer this question
with specifics, you're not ready to select training options. If you've
done a performance assessment, defining objectives should be pretty painless.
Training should be selected or designed to match the specific performance
needs of your organization.
2. Who is the
target population?
Describe the trainees. Are they new hires, experienced professionals,
or both? How many trainees are there - 1, 10, 100...? What skills do they
already possess? Do all or some of them work shifts? Can they be temporarily
removed from their jobs for training? What are their educational backgrounds?
What attitudes will they likely bring to training? All of these characteristics
(and more) must be considered. For instance, if the target population includes
shift workers and removing them from their shifts for training involves
real difficulty, classroom instruction may not be the best training delivery
vehicle.
3. How complex
is the subject matter to be trained?
If the subject matter is easy and trainees require only familiarization,
training is designed or selected very differently than if the subject matter
is difficult and trainees require in-depth knowledge and skill verification.
4. When are the
new performance levels required?
Yesterday? Next week? Within three months? When the new ground system
is delivered two years from now? In considering training options, you must
consider your window of opportunity. The time frames you have to work with
will limit (or expand) your training options.
The Certification and Training Group is experienced in training needs
analysis. Please contact us if you need more detailed assistance. Services
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