Project 3 FEA Plan
Feedback from professor
Overall this is good progress. One thing to work on is your performance problem statement: I've broken that section down: Potential Cause: Lack of adequate resources to support the learning of English as the second language in Saudi Arabia, Potential Cause: due to a shortage of professionals in ESL, This is the problem: "makes it hard for the citizens in the nation to gain mastery of the language." The problem is that citizens are not mastering English at the desired level. This is a statement of importance: This makes them unable to explore the economic opportunities that come with increasing their scope of competence in English. Although I did see you stated this more clearly later in your paper.
So next steps. The one piece you haven't included yet is the data you would collect to support your potential causes. Since you are using Gilbert's BEM model, you should think about the kinds of data you could collect in each of the cells. I've added comments in the uploaded PDF. There are ways you can collect data on this problem:
1. look at current ESL classes offered and the curriculum.
2. Collect materials on community resources for continued practice.
3. interview citizens who maintain competence, and those who do not, to understand the difference.
and I am sure many more.
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Instructor: Dr. Rob Pusch
By: Abdullah Albelehy
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Identify a significant human performance-oriented problem in a context of your own
choosing, introduce the context.
- Problem statement
A great number of Saudi Arabians have a low rate of proficiency in English as their second
language.
- Competent performance
The government of Saudi Arabia has been encouraging its citizens to embrace the idea of
learning English as a second language. However, the relatively slow progress of learning
English has become a major hindrance to societal and personal development. Education is
connected to religion in Saudi Arabia, hence learning is connected to Islam. A note from the
Ministry of Education’s policy on English teaching in 2002 states that:
“Translation: One of the goals of the education system in the Kingdom is to provide
students with proficiency in English as a way of acquiring knowledge in the fields of
sciences, arts and new inventions, and of transferring knowledge and the sciences to other
communities, in an effort to contribute to the spread of the faith of Islam and service to
humanity.”
(https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1132882.pdf)
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- Performance Problem
Lack of adequate resources to support the learning of English as the second language in Saudi
Arabia, due to shortage of professionals in ESL, makes it hard for the citizens in the nation to
gain mastery of the language. This makes them unable to explore the economic opportunities
that come wit increasing their scope of competence in English.
- Audience Profile
A big of Saudi Arabians do not comprehend the need for them to learn a second language,
and most specially, English (ur Rahman & Alhaisoni, 2013). While learning a second
languages expands their scope of knowledge and increases their prospects of gaining better
employment and remuneration and hence increasing the national economic performance, it is
not well embraced as ti is not directly related to Islam which is the main religion.
- Context and Environments
All learners in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are required to go through several levels of
learning before being legally competent to carry out economic roles. These levels include
preschool, primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education. Learning is expected to directly
promote the religion of Islam. It is mandatory for all parents to educate their children, and even
more beneficial that the students learn how to use English as the second language. The
government is encouraging this by increasing the usage of technology in the field of learning.
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Clarify this problem: e.g., whose problem? How big/frequent is this problem? Who/what is
affected?
- Who/Whose problem
Many stakeholders are involved in this problem. Saudi Arabian students, the Ministry of
Education, curriculum developers, parents, teachers and many other students are concerned.
However, teachers and students are the main stakeholder and are direct recipients of the effects
of this problem. However, parents and the ministry are not direct recipients of the effect of this
problem.
- Frequency of the problem
Every year, new students begin their learning journey at preschool. Therefore, this problem is
experienced at least once per year, but throughout the year. As a matter of fact, the number of
people who speak other languages, apart from Amharic, constitute less than 1% of the
population, hence a very huge percentage have little to no exposure in ESL (ur Rahman &
Alhaisoni, 2013).
- What is affected
The academics and skills portfolio of the Saudi Arabian students is greatly affected. The job
skills of these students may be limited. invalid. Additionally, the economic performance of the
whole kingdom suffers sub-optimal exploitation.
Justify the importance of solving this problem.
Making it easier for Saudi Arabian students to learn and understand English will increase their
academic portfolio, making them more helpful on the national and international platforms. By
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understanding English as the second language, more job opportunities will be opened up, both
locally and internationally, hence increasing the individual and national economic welfare.
This can be solved through making the course available through video, printable materials and
smart device applications will help students
Briefly explain your plan for the next steps.
The Human Performance Technology (HPT) model will be used to analyze the performance
problem in depth. The model will be most important in:
• Identifying the problem
• Determining the contributing and root causes
• Identifying appropriate solution
• Checking the effectiveness of the CAPAs
Image 1: HPT Model - Image source: http://carleycorp.com/human-performance-technology/
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The HPT model is a combination of systems and methods of systematically identifying and
removing barriers that face individual and organizational development. The use of the HPT model
in identifying and removing barriers to success follows a strict guideline by principles that
differentiate it from other disciplines. One of the benefits of using HPT in this case is that HPT
focuses on the end result, that is, the outcome of a scenario even before the end reaches. This is
important as it helps to align all stakeholders to the vision of the company. By focusing on the
desired end product, the HPT model helps stakeholders to be able to focus on the resources they
need to accomplish their goals. The HPT model’s ability to focus on the future enables the
organization to visualize the project even before completion. In this case the HPT model will be
very helpful in ensuring that the resources required for the implementation of this project are
achieved. It will help the stakeholders to be able to achieve their vision, and even visualize the
desired end result for better planning.
Since this project involves various stakeholders whose interaction is going to result into a
wholesome completion of the project, the HPT model is appropriate as it will focus on the system
as a whole and not the process. This means that the focus will be on the success of the interaction
of the different components of the project. Instead of focusing on the wholesome input and output
of the project, the focus will shift to encourage the success of the individual processes that will
make up the project. This will help to build a solid ground for success (Wilmoth, et al., 2002).
For purposes of the “Cause Analysis”, Gilbert’s Behavioral Engineering Model (BEM),
below, will be used to provide detailed information, as well as offer a judgment of the significance
of the proposed intervention. The HPT model is also the best measurement tool to use in this case,
due to its ability to add value to the project. The HPT mode; requires the actual involvement of the
stakeholders at every juncture. This means that even the students will get a chance to give their
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feedback on the progress of the process. Based on the fact that the HPT model assesses the
performance at the ground and final levels it adds value by constantly and consistently
communication the value of the process to the stakeholders as well as continually monitoring their
alignment to the vision that has been set for the project (Wilmoth, et al., 2002).
The HPT model is also best suited in creating the required amount of cooperation among the
stakeholders. The model encourages cooperation and partnership among the stakeholders. This
enables them to communicate more frequently and effectively, hence the ease in making decision,
and more so, the making of correct decisions (Mamantov, 2013).
Image 2: Gilbert's BEM Model - Image source:
https://kineticed.wordpress.com/2016/01/27/worthy-dbposts/
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Causes
Based on the Gilbert BEM model, there are several causes that can be identified as leading to
the inability of most Saudi Arabian students not being able to comprehend and use proper English.
Number one cause of this problem is that most of the live among other people who have similar
problems, so these people do not get the chance to learn their mistakes, and cannot know how they
are performing. In the event that the any of them decides to learn proper English, they cannot use
those around them to rate their performance, as most of those around them have poor
comprehension of English as their second language. Lack of access to training and practice
materials is also a great hindrance to the successful comprehension and use of English as the
second language to many Saudi Arabian students. In addition, getting people to start learning
English when they are all grown up is tasking since most of them have already become used to the
mindset of never understanding this language. Moreover, people may lack commitment a they are
busy trying to pursue other dreams in life (ur Rahman & Alhaisoni, 2013).
Solutions
Teaching English to children in Saudi Arabia will help to encourage them to comprehend
English at a young age, hence its use will not be problematic when they grow up. In addition,
creating special classes for students who are really interested in learning English as well as making
the course available through video, printable materials and smart device applications will help
students have a chance to access learning materials, practice more often and be graded by their
teachers in real time (Khan, 2011).
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References
Khan, I. A. (2011). Learning difficulties in English: Diagnosis and pedagogy in Saudi Arabia.
Educational Research, 2(7), 1248-1257.
Mamantov, T. J. (2013). An investigation of English as a second language models (pullout,
co-teaching, and inclusion) on the Texas English language proficiency assessment
system. Texas A&M University-Commerce.
ur Rahman, M. M., & Alhaisoni, E. (2013). Teaching English in Saudi Arabia: prospects and
challenges. Academic Research International, 4(1), 112.
Wilmoth, F. S., Prigmore, C., & Bray, M. (2002). HPT models: An overview of the major
models in the field. Performance Improvement, 41(8), 16-24.
https://brooksgroup.com/sales-training-blog/action-plan-for-sales-target-achievement