Case Study: determining training needs
Determining Training Needs at Summit Credit Union
In 2008, Summit Credit Union experienced a merger which doubled the size of the company and made it necessary to build a new corporate culture. They want to improve credit members’ financial lives. The company has shifted away from off-the-shelf training and developed online and face-to face- programs. “These programs are customized to employee needs and the company’s goals and initiatives.” (Noe pg.147) The learning function is a key role while dealing with business issues such as efficiency, loan growth, and increased sales. They want all learning staff members to contribute to the company initiatives. Recently, Summit Credit Union has identified a problem with a new leader. They don’t have the necessary skills, information, and knowledge that are needed for the job. The reason for this is the way the training curriculum is organized.
How would you conduct a needs assessment to determine if new leaders are starting their jobs without the necessary knowledge and skills to perform well, and if the organization of the training curriculum (or another training issue) is responsible for this problem?
“A needs assessment is a systematic process to acquire an accurate, thorough picture of a system’s strengths and weaknesses, in order to improve it and meet existing and future challenges.” (Dictionary) In the needs assessment, the first process would be an organizational analysis. This is an analysis that identifies whether training supports the company’s strategic direction, whether manager, peers, and employees support training activity and what training resources are available. Peer and manager support for training is a very big deal. If a company wants training success they need positive attitudes from every employee about participation in training activities. The next process would be deciding whether Summit Credit Union wants to devote time and money to training. They have to decide whether they want to
In 2008, Summit Credit Union experienced a merger which doubled the size of the company and made it necessary to build a new corporate culture. They want to improve credit members’ financial lives. The company has shifted away from off-the-shelf training and developed online and face-to face- programs. “These programs are customized to employee needs and the company’s goals and initiatives.” (Noe pg.147) The learning function is a key role while dealing with business issues such as efficiency, loan growth, and increased sales. They want all learning staff members to contribute to the company initiatives. Recently, Summit Credit Union has identified a problem with a new leader. They don’t have the necessary skills, information, and knowledge that are needed for the job. The reason for this is the way the training curriculum is organized.
How would you conduct a needs assessment to determine if new leaders are starting their jobs without the necessary knowledge and skills to perform well, and if the organization of the training curriculum (or another training issue) is responsible for this problem?
“A needs assessment is a systematic process to acquire an accurate, thorough picture of a system’s strengths and weaknesses, in order to improve it and meet existing and future challenges.” (Dictionary) In the needs assessment, the first process would be an organizational analysis. This is an analysis that identifies whether training supports the company’s strategic direction, whether manager, peers, and employees support training activity and what training resources are available. Peer and manager support for training is a very big deal. If a company wants training success they need positive attitudes from every employee about participation in training activities. The next process would be deciding whether Summit Credit Union wants to devote time and money to training. They have to decide whether they want to
References: Jackson, S., & Schuler, R. (n.d.). Best website on HRM - Excellent HR Tools and HR Presentation Slides - HR ppt - Human Resource Management. Best website on HRM - Excellent HR Tools and HR Presentation Slides - HR ppt - Human Resource Management. Retrieved August 31, 2013, from http://www.explorehr.org/articles/Training_+_Development/Training_Need_Analysis.html Needs assessment | Define Needs assessment at Dictionary.com. (n.d.). Dictionary.com - Free Online English Dictionary. Retrieved August 31, 2013, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/needs+assessment Noe, R. A. (2013). Employee training and development (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.