Case Studies in Needs Assessment

Case Studies in Needs Assessment offers insights about the practice of needs assessment in dynamic, real-world organizations and communities. This book invites both novice and seasoned analysts to look over the shoulders of practitioners, to examine needs assessment practice in action, to grasp the real-world issues that arise, and to understand a variety of needs assessment strategies and challenges. Each case in this book examines the implementation of needs assessment in a specific situation, bridging needs assessment theories and actual practice. The book is organized around five major approaches: knowledge and skill assessment, job and task analysis, competency assessment, strategic needs assessment, and complex needs assessment. The last chapter summarizes lessons learned from all the case studies: it describes the insights and tricks of the trade that Darlene Russ-Eft and Catherine Sleezer gained from commissioning and reviewing these cases.

Table of Contents:
Preface - Darlene Russ-Eft and Catherine Sleezer Acknowledgments Editors’ Biographies Contributing Authors’ Biographies 1. Introduction - Darlene Russ-Eft and Catherine Sleezer PART A. Knowledge and Skills Assessments 2. Transitioning From Traditional to Digital: A Knowledge and Skills Needs Assessment for a Community Orchestra Context - Candice R. Clark 3. A Needs Assessment of Online Core Courses for Student Learning in Higher Education - Yonjoo Cho, Meina Zhu, Ratrapee Techawitthayachinda, and Ling Qian 4. A Needs Assessment for a Professional Association’s Certificate Program - Denise M. Cumberland 5. A Public Legal Education and Information Strategy: Advancing Cybersecurity and Counterterrorism Processes - Jen Geary 6. Paws-A-Tive Pals: Assessing the Needs of a Therapy Dog Organization - Sequoia Star 7. Small Business Enrichment Training Needs Assessment - Sequoia Star PART B. Job and Task Analysis 8. Enterprise-wide Job Task Analysis in a Large Organization - Tim McGonigle PART C. Competency Assessments 9. Assessing Needs for a PhD Study Program in Human Resource Development and Organization Development: A Case Study Focused on Quality Development in an Outcome-Based Education Approach - Dawisa Sritanyarat PART D. Strategic Assessments 10. Comprehensive Needs Assessment and Asset/Capacity Building: The Case of the Westington Schools - James W. Altschuld and Molly Engle 11. A Strategic Multiyear Needs Assessment: Leadership Development for a Global Firm - N. Anand Chandrasekar and Heather Champion 12. Needs Assessment in Rural Communities - Eric Einspruch 13. Assessing Needs of a Community College: A Mixed Methods Case Study - P. Cristian Gugiu 14. Needs Assessment for Employee Empowerment in a Large Multinational: A Case Study - Gary N. McLean 15. Diverse Students’ Needs Assessment Case Study - Erich N. Pitcher 16. Spending Other People’s Money Responsibly and Strategically: Using Needs Assessment in Philanthropy - Lauren A. Silverstein 17. Case Study of a Total Rewards Association’s Needs Assessment - Lindsay Strack PART E. Complex Needs Assessments 18. Needs Assessment at FMP Consulting - Louise C. Chan 19. Readiness for Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care: Application of the R = MC2 Framework - Ariel M. Domlyn, Tara Kenworthy, Jonathan P. Scaccia, and Victoria Scott 20. Faculty and Student Perceptions of University Course Evaluations - Melanie Suzanne Simpson, Ginny Cockerill, Andrea Word, and Derek Koehl 21. Orchid Candy Company - Sandra L. Williams and Kelly A. McGreevey Lessons Learned

About the Author :
Darlene Russ-Eft, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus of Adult and Higher Education, College of  Education, Oregon State University (OSU).  She received her BA from the College of Wooster in psychology and her MA and PhD from University of Michigan in cognitive psychology.  She worked for international training companies as director of research before joining OSU, where she teaches doctoral and master’s courses to senior leaders and practitioners.  Her research focuses on issues related to leadership development and HRD program evaluation.  Her most recent book is titled Managing Social Science Research (2017, Wiley).  She is past president of the Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD); past board member of the American Evaluation Association; and past editor of Human Resource Development Quarterly.  In her previous role with international training companies and as a director for the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance, and Instruction (ibstpiR), she has undertaken several studies examining global competencies related to HRD.  She has received several awards for her research, including the Times Mirror Editor of the Year Award, the ASTD (now ATD) Research Article Award, and the AHRD Scholar Award.  She was also inducted into the AHRD Hall of Fame. Catherine M. (Cathy) Sleezer, Ph.D., helps individuals and organizations identify and address performance barriers and align training and development with goals. Grounded and guided by cutting-edge research and best practices, she has consulted successfully with a variety of organizations on needs assessment, training and development, executive coaching, strategic planning, organizational surveys, employee engagement, management development, new employee orientation, and team building. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and was a professor at Oklahoma State University before moving to the corporate world where she filled multiple roles for an international company.  Cathy’s work history also includes serving as a faculty member at Penn State where she directed the Institute for Research in Training and Development. More recently, she was the resident consultant for the University of Tulsa’s Center for Executive and Professional Development. Cathy is a past-director and president of the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance, and Instruction (ibstpi®) and a past board member of the Academy of Human Resource Development and the ASTD (now ATD) Research Committee. Her co-authored books include Human Resource Development Review: Research and Implications, A Practical Guide to Needs Assessment (3rd edition), Fieldbook of ibstpi® Evaluator Competencies, and Managing Applied Social Research.

Review :
A comprehensive needs assessment book that addresses nearly every type of organization, from local to global, from North America to South East Asia. Clearly structured, with a helpful key Lessons learned at the end. I would use it in my advanced instructional design class.  An excellent overview of how needs assessments are formulated in multiple situations and disciplines. The book contains various needs assessment approaches from practitioners in business, consulting, non-profit organizations, higher education, and health care.  This book provides educators with a wealth of examples that can be used to illustrate the need --- for needs assessments across all settings