Homework for PROF_TOMMY

TRAINING NEEDS ASSESSMENT 1

TRAINING NEEDS ANALYSIS 9

HRMN 406 Assignment 2: Training Needs Assessment

Training Needs Analysis

I will analyze the training needs issue of a mythical company named D and D Books. The company has multiple essential departments and has earned its seat as one of the Mid-west’s largest suppliers of books. The management has researched about the benefits of automating many of its operations in order to minimize the workloads assigned to its workers. Creating a website would enable customers to quickly secure the services through their company by allowing consumers to: reserve new releases, order family favorites, provide playful entertainment, solicit feedback, and connect with the consumer all from the safety of their home.

The strategy will be implemented by creating an organizational website that will place the marketing and sales of their products online. Consequently, the company has been faced with the need of training several employees on how to design and operate the website and how to train users on traversing through the site’s features. The training is meant for the company’s employees, web designers and consumers. Trainees will be required to attend training classes, which will be conducted through peer to peerwork groups, seminars, and one-on-one training within the organizations’ design. Consumers who are not savvy with online purchasing will be allowed to watch tutorial videos and may chat live with one of their customer representatives (www.hr-survey.com, 2015).

The questionnaire will include the following questions:

Questionnaire

1. When is the best time of day for you to attend training?

Morning, Lunch, Afternoon, Night?

2. Based on your current workload, what days’ work best for you to attend training?

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday?

3. What areas of technology are you interested in?

Data Mining, Social Networking, Market Strategy, Advertising, or Technical Services?

4. What specific qualities do you possess in respect to the areas mentioned above?

5. Would you be interested in learning a new career field?

6. Which method of instruction works best for you?

One on One, Hands On, Small Group, Lecture, Conference, On-line, or Video?

7. Would you object to having to pay a small fee for outsourced instructors?

Yes or No

8. What factors would limit your ability to register for training?

Cost, Location, Topic, Length, Training Goals?

9. What is your employment status?

Part Time or Full Time?

10. What is your current job position?

Sales, Customer Service, Supervisor, Manager, Executive?

11. Where do you see yourself in five years with respect to this company?

12. What other training do you believe we owe you in order help you be successful in this company?

The questionnaires will be given to every employee upon their selection for employment. Every employee will be required to submit their survey within the one week prior to their first instruction module. It will assist supervisors to better understand their employees’ point of view in relation to the training program selected. It will additionally streamline the procedure of gathering employees’ data easier which will assist the trainer’s prior knowledge on how to structure their period of instruction (www.hr-survey.com, 2015).

Today's work environment requires employees to be experienced in performing complex tasks in an efficient, cost-effective, and safe manner (www.hr-survey.com, 2015). Training programs also gives a vested interest to their employees and allows them to feel they have a stake in the overall success of the business. Development programs and training opportunities are the perfect setting to remind employees of the long term goals that a company tries to achieve (Simmons, 2012). Training does not end because you are competent in your job it is a never-ending cycle in an ever-changing market.

Outcome 1 (Trainee Knowledge)

The first expected outcome in the training program is to develop a human asset base that is thoroughly conversant with computer technology, especially in the use of the internet as a marketing platform. The training outcome will be based on the ability of the employees to grasp the intended information. The primary goal of the training program is to ensure that the employees of the company can effectively use the website. The interactive website will contain features that will require the employees to input data and to manipulate it to provide relevant information and interpret it to the customers. This implies that the entire taskforce will be taken through the basics of using the internet, and using different computer platforms to access the website and its features. The employees will be required to portray a clear understanding of the theoretical information provided in the training session. The one-on-one training process will facilitate a good platform for the trainers to evaluate the cognition level of the trainees with reference to their understanding of the subject matter. It is imperative for every human asset in the organization to demonstrate exemplary skills in grasping the relevant knowledge on running a website, using it for marketing and sales, as well as providing support to customers.

Outcome 2 (Trainee Skills & Reaction)

The second outcome will be the ability of the trainees to assume the behavior being taught in the training program. The trainers are expected to provide the employees with sophisticated skills of using technology to enhance their performance. This implies that the employees will be expected to develop the relevant innovative skills for problem solving in their respective positions in the workflow. Under this outcome, the employees will also be expected to demonstrate the ability to traverse the website and the computer system with ease. One of the core objectives of the training program is to make work easier for the employees; hence, they should demonstrate that the program is effective in attaining the same. The training program is also expected to reveal the performance capacity of the employees on an individual level. It is impossible for the entire human asset base to portray the same skill level in utilizing technology, but the training is expected to develop a workforce with standardized skills in information technology. The second outcome will also highlight the reactions of the respective trainees. It is expected that some of the employees might resist the training program. The reactions of the trainees will facilitate the development of new approaches of training in the future.

Outcome 3 (Organizational Level)

This outcome entails the potential of the employees to enhance the performance of the organization. The training program is deeply enshrined in the values and mission of the company; hence, it is expected that the trainees will become better assets for the company. The training program is an investment on the workforce; thus, the leadership and management function will expect a change in the efficiency of operations. The declarative knowledge from the training sessions will have to be evaluated by the company through an analysis of the efficiency of the respective employees. While the traditional measure of declarative knowledge after training has always been the administration of tests, the company will use a different approach for the same. The approach of choice is reviewing the performance of the employees prior and after the training program. Recurrent appraisal programs will be applied on a monthly basis. The company will also employ a supervisor from the trainers to look into the procedural knowledge level of the respective employees after the training program. The expected outcome is that every trainee will showcase exemplary declarative and procedural knowledge.

Expected Performance

The intrinsic cognitive load of the training content will be divided into smaller interconnected elements to ensure the employees develop long term memory on the subject matter. It is expected that by the end of the program, every trainee in the program will be able to provide a detailed theoretical explanation on the information technology in question. The development of a website might not be a simple subject for most of the trainees, but it is expected that the majority of the employees will positively grasp some knowledge on how it is done. Few will be expected to graduate into seasoned web developers, but all the participants must learn how to navigate the company’s website, feeding data to the website, and responding to the frequently asked questions by the customers.

In addition, it is expected that the training program will facilitate higher levels of efficiency and innovation among the employees in the quest of delivering company goals. The training is expected to eliminate the current limitations in employee performance. Since the training content will be simplified to accommodate every trainee in the program, it is expected that there will be minimal chances of resistance to the proposed changes. Consistency in achievements as communicated by the leadership and management functions is also highly expected from the trainees. General business skills of the employees are expected to be raised after the training program, and the employees will also portray satisfaction with their work because it will be relatively enjoyable. Above all, the employees are expected to start recording a higher index in customer service. The incorporation of information technology and using an online platform is expected to ultimately increase the number of customers for the company.

Performance Gaps

Currently, the company has not integrated information technology in its business processes, which has greatly undermined the quality of services provided to customers in comparison with other book sellers. While the employees have been committed to ensure every customer is satisfied with the services offered, there is still room for improvement. First, the company requires an information system that facilitates faster ordering and delivery of books. The company also requires an online store that will provide e-books to the customers. Secondly, there is a need for the company to possess an online marketing platform that will increase businesses performance. Current sales and profit margins are limited to the few customers that can access the book shop physically.

The recommended training program will not only facilitate a smooth process of integrating technology into the business, but it will also motivate the employees to enhance their innovative skills. The company lacks an adequate marketing strategy, but the website will seal this gap. It is expected that the website will help the company to sail smoothly into social media platforms, which will act as potential marketing avenues. Indeed, if the training program attains the expected outcomes, D and D Books will face tremendous possibilities of growth.

References

Simmons, K. (2012). The benefits of employee development and training. Business 2 Community. Retrieved from http://www.business2community.com/leadership/the-benefits-of-employee-development-and-training-0339850#C4g5lA18PxGxmMe7.97.

www.hr-guide.com. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.hr-guide.com/data/G510.htm.

www.hr-survey.com. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.hr-survey.com/TrainingNeeds.htm.