Setting the Stage

Is there such a thing as too much data when it comes to developing a training needs analysis? The answer is – it depends! It depends on who has requested the analysis and how much data they want to sift through before making training decisions; it also depends on who is paying for the analysis and how far they want you to go.

That being said, you must always collect and review data prior to making training recommendations so that you know that you are looking for training in the right areas. None of your stakeholders wants employees to say that their training was a waste of time, missed what was important, or an unnecessary repeat of something they did before. Also, even though the data you collect prior to training may seem like a lot of work, it’s a very important step when you analyze that same training to make sure it was exactly what was needed, and that it was retained by the participants.

In Session Three we discussed collecting data in a way that reflects the current state of things and considers the future (desired) outcomes. To do this, you need to design a data collection plan. Your plan should incorporate two key steps: designing the data collection process and gathering the required information.