Dr. Engr. Md. Sakawat Ali

E-mail: sakawat_ali@yahoo.com

“Training Needs Assessment” (TNA) is the method of determining if a training need exists and, if it does, what training is required to fill the gap. This is an assessment that looks at employee and organizational knowledge, skills, and abilities, to identify any gaps or areas of need. Once the training needs are identified, then you need to determine/develop objectives to be accomplished by the training. TNA seeks to identify accurately the levels of the present situation in the target surveys, interview, observation, secondary data and/or workshop.

 Why do we need a Training Needs Assessment?First, identify dissatisfaction with the current situation and desire for change as similarities among the requests. Each request implies that a gap or discrepancy exists between what is and what could be or should be. A learning or performance gap between the current and desired condition is called a need.
TNA aims at the following situations:

1. Solving a current problem
2. Avoiding a past or current problem
3. Creating or taking advantage of a future opportunity
4. Providing learning, development or growth 

The purpose of TNA is to answer some familiar questions: why, who, how, what, and when. The following are descriptions of the questions and what analysis can be done to answer them.  

Steps of Training Needs Assessment (TNA):

Step 1: Identify Problem and Needs
Step 2: Determine design of needs analysis
Step 3: Collect data
Step 3: Analyze data
Step 3: Provide feedback

How do you perform a needs assessment? 

5 Tips to Consider When Conducting a Needs Assessment

1. Gather information from multiple sources. At times, a leader or human resource partner may come to the L&D professional with a request for training
2. Be consistent with questions
3. Choose the best method for collecting data
4. Be clear on what the ideal state is
5. Don't rush into a solution.

Methods of needs assessment can be classified into seven main types, each of which can take many different forms in practice.

1. Gap or discrepancy analysis
2. Reflection on action and reflection in action
3. Self-assessment by diaries, journals, log books, weekly reviews
4. Peer review
5. Observation

How many types of training are there?

Types of Training – 5 Main Types:

1. Orientation Training
2. Job Training
3. Craft Training
4. Internship Training and
5. Retraining

Key Words: Training and Assessment