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.

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.