U2D2-28 - Describe, Analyze, Define the Problem, How and Include Description and Determine the Situanal Analysis Framework of Needs Assessment. Please follow all instructions listed below.

FOCUSING THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Introduction Needs assessments require diligent preparation in order to be carried out e�ectively. Before assembling your needs assessment committee (NAC) you should follow a few steps to be sure you are asking the right questions and involving the right stakeholders.

The purpose of focusing the needs assessment is to ensure that you gain the proper perspective of the situation before delving too far into the issue at hand. These public decision issues can be big and messy, and it's easy to get o� track or try to take on too much in one needs assessment e�ort.

Focusing is important!

PHASE ONE

Preliminary scoping of the situation The purpose of these activities is to conduct an initial scan to guide the course of your needs assessment.

During this preliminary phase you will attempt to discover other relevant stakeholder groups and areas of information.

Ask questions Ask those requesting the needs assessment (this very well might be yourself) simple questions as:

What is the size of the problem area? How frequently does the problem occur? How big is it?

What data is needed?

What type? Qualitative, quantitative, or both?

Where can you gather this data? Does it already exist? If so, is it still relevant?

Will you need to gather it yourself? How? What tools are available, cost e�ective, and won't take too much time?

Who else should be involved? Who else is a�ected by this problem area? Who would be needed on a NAC?

What is the timeline? Does this need to be done by a certain date?

What funds are available to support NAC activities? What about funds to solve the problem?

Find others to interview In asking the previous questions, you should be able to determine who else might be a�ected by the results of the needs assessment. You will want to meet with them to determine their perspective.

These individuals very well may be involved on your NAC. Meeting with them will prepare you for reactions they may have at the initial NAC meeting.

Brief literature search Once you have determined the scope of the problem, you will want to determine what type of information exists.

What other agencies in other parts of the country have conducted similar projects?

What was the result?

Doing this will prepare you for possible barriers, and may help to either widen or narrow your scope further.

Consolidate thoughts After you have met with possible NAC members and stakeholders, you will want to organize your thoughts in order to gain a clear picture of your needs assessment environment. You may want to create a mind map to plot out relationships between stakeholder groups and possible data.

Remember, focusing the issue is important!

While you may present various options, this is the time to begin the process of narrowing the issue to something that can be achieved with a reasonable amount of e�ort.

Construct summary Summarize your thoughts in a way to e�ectively communicate your initial reactions to others.

Where do you think this needs assessment should focus?

Who should be involved?

What data should be gathered?

What do you think the result may be?

By covering these areas, you will give others perspective into your goals and direction for the needs assessment.

Have others review summary Having peers review your summary will help to prevent your own personal biases from creeping in early in the project and point out some areas you may have missed.

While these individuals may or may not be directly involved with the needs assessment, having another perspective will help focus your assessment.

PHASE TWO

Coming to an agreement on next activity It is critical that those involved with the needs assessment are on board with your plan. Without their approval, you run the risk of the results being ignored, or going down the wrong path completely.

By engaging the group to brainstorm next steps and agree to a plan of action, it allows you as a facilitator or participant in the needs assessment to hold others involved responsible for the project and its end result.

Ask group for next steps

Based on your summary, what do those involved with the needs assessment feel is the best plan of action?

Should a larger NAC be created?

Who do they feel should be involved?

What data would they like to see gathered?

By asking those involved to help with the next steps, you not only gain another perspective but you will also assure they have more ownership in the project. When asked to work on a task that is their own idea, members are more likely to follow through.

Construct memorandum of agreement Having those involved with the needs assessment formally agree to a plan of action is critical to the success of your project. This will increase the likelihood your plan will be followed by members by allowing others to agree on the direction of the project thus giving them a larger stake in the project.

Subject Matter Expert:

Interactive Design:

Instructional Designer:

Project Manager:

CREDITS Yvonne Kochanowski Christopher Schons

Brian Powers

Kristin Staab

L i c e n s e d u n d e r a C r e a t i v e C o m m o n s A t t r i b u t i o n 3 . 0 L i c e n s e .