Running Head : TRAINING NEED ANALYSIS

Training Need Analysis

Introduction

Training can be defined as any organized activity which is specifically targeted at teaching information, or any other set of skills which enhance the overall performance of the recipient, as well as help them attain a required level of knowledge (Goldstein, 1993). Training results in the teaching of knowledge which is critical for a specific competency. It is basically an educational process where people get a chance to learn new information, relearn previous skills and focus of enhancing the existing level of knowledge and skills (Bernstein & Borkovec, 1973, p. 412). The focal point of providing training is to create such a lasting impact that illicit effectiveness out of the recipients even after the training ends.

According to Dolezalek (2005) organizations around the world invest billions of dollars into their training and developmental programs, expecting that this training will pay off in the form of an increased organizational performance and yielded positive results. Both the primary and ultimate goal of training is to yield positive results. Thus, in such a situation, it becomes imperative to ensure that the transfer of training is as effective as possible. According to Fitzpatrick (2001) only 10 per cent of what is learned in training is applied on the job. This posse a great threat to the organizations as their primary goal is to improve the performance, yet the training has little or no impact on the skills which are sought to be enhanced through training (p. 14-28).

This is where Training Need Analysis (TNA) steps in. The purpose of TNA is to identify the performance requirements, the level of skills necessary and abilities needed by the personnel to make sure these predetermined requirements are met. It helps in addressing the most important areas of concern for an organization as (Brown,2002) TNA can be referred to as a process of identifying the gap between the envisaged performance and the actual performance. TNA not only identifies this gap, but goes on to explore the reasons which lead to such a scenario and then help develop appropriate strategies to overcome such a gap.(p.569)

In this research paper, we have sought to analyze the importance of Training Need Assessment and how it is an imperative part of the training cycle. The importance of TNA cannot be overlooked, to support this notion a number of researches have been reviewed so that a practical standpoint is accomplished.

Discussion

Even though, almost all of the professionals would agree on the fact that a front end diagnosis of the problem is important before designing a training and development program, there is little consensus on how to do this (Williamson,1993, p.44) Thus, in order to cater to this phenomena and to further strengthen the importance of TNA in the entire training cycle, various ideologies and aspects have been discussed which shed light on what should be studied, how should it be studied and what to do when a problem is diagnosed.

Effective training and development is heavily dependent upon the understanding of what ...