WK7 ASSIGNMENT MGT547

Needs Assessment

Name:

Institutional Affiliation:

Needs Assessment

MacArthur and Associates require a needs assessment and task analysis in order for change management to be undertaken effectively. A needs assessment mainly entails identifying areas that need action (Kaufman & Guerra-Lopez, 2013). In this light, it can be seen that a need assessment will mainly focus on identifying areas that need action and prioritizing them. As it was earlier pointed out, MacArthur and associates are aiming at improving performance and fostering a learning culture. For the two to be met, there is a need for needs assessment that will not only identify areas that need action but also strengths and weaknesses of the organization and how the former can be leveraged.

The assessment will enable a number of following activities. First, it will help the organization learn and identify human capital management strengths and weaknesses. When identified, it will be now possible for the organization to put in place strategies that will leverage and empower human resources in line with set goals. For instance, the strength relating to performance needs to be identified and leveraged and weakness addressed. In order for change management to be dealt with most effectively, human resources management must be central to it, hence their concerns and needs to be identified and addressed in a timely manner.

In becoming a learning organization, it was earlier highlighted that the firm’s employees must be motivated and inspired to become part of the process through creating, assessing, and sharing information. More so, they should be ready to work closely with their colleagues in work teams in order to enable effective information sharing. In this regard, a needs assessment needs to examine whether the human resources are willing to undertake the activities and what challenges may be experienced. When such are known, the managerial level should now put in place measures to address the issues.

Second, a needs assessment is required for examining the relationship between junior employees and the managerial level. It was earlier ascertained that the managerial level has much to do with change management mainly in guiding the process and providing needed materials and support. A needs assessment will mainly be looking into in determination of the nature of relationship between the two parties. There is a need for a culture where the two parties perform collectively and closely in a manner which promotes diversity and synergy meaning that an assessment will basically be aiming at examining the nature of the relationship and what needs to be done to promote effective relations.

Finally, a needs assessment will also examine how the organization aligns with market changes and customers’ tastes and preferences. In change management, the organization needs to align its strategic plan with various dynamics in the market so as to foster expansive growth and profitability. Essentially, the activity will focus on assessing how the organization aligns with market dynamics so that change management can be undertaken in a manner which enables MacArthur and Associates to meet market dynamics such as changing customers’ tastes and preferences.

On the other hand, task analysis needs to be undertaken in order for the firm to understand various processes and how best they can be improved. Mainly, task analysis entails the process of learning by observing targets in action in a manner that enables a complete understanding of a certain task (Barbazette, 2006). In this light, a task analysis will be highly important for the organization for the following reasons.

One, it will be possible for any needed modifications to be identified and addressed in a timely manner. For instance, in change management, it is likely that employees will need to be guided and inspired through the process. However, guidance, inspiration, and motivation will not be undertaken effectively without a task analysis which will help identify concerns and needs of the various teams. For instance, what part of the change process is more challenging in relation to becoming a learning organization? It can only be known through undertaking an effective task analysis.

Two, task analysis will also be important in identify strengths and weaknesses of the team during change management. Through observation of various teams, it will be possible to learn what they struggle with hence strategies can be put in place to address the issue. For instance, in becoming a learning organization, it is likely for teams to struggle with information sharing due to lack of interpersonal skills and cultural competence. When such happens, employees need to be offered training on such skills so as to promote information which is key in the process of becoming a learning organization.

Finally, task analysis will enable the firm to learn about needed resources in various processes and activities. During change management processes, it is only through task analysis that it will be possible for the organization to learn about needed resources and how the available ones need to be shared. There should be strategies to meet such needs which needs to be put in place by the managerial level.

References

Barbazette, J. (2006). Training Needs Assessment: Methods, Tools, and Techniques (1st ed.). New York, NY: Pfeiffer.

Kaufman, R., & Guerra-Lopez , I. (2013). Needs Assessment for Organizational Success (1st ed.). Stanford, CA: Association for Talent Development.