The Top 3 Areas Where Training Needs Assessments Can Go Horribly Wrong

We believe that there is real value in identifying and targeting critical training needs before the fact and training impact after the fact.

From our perspective, assessment and measurement should be an integral part of the talent planning and development process. How else will you know where to focus and whether it is making a difference that counts?

But do it right. Any training needs assessment survey must be crafted correctly. Make sure you avoid the following three common mistakes:

1. Poorly written multiple choice questions. There is an art to asking questions that are clear and actually elicit the correct response. All too often, surveys use ambiguous, conflictive or confusing wording that skew survey results.
2. Measuring the wrong things. Be sure that you are testing for what matters. Too many surveys are off the mark because they incorrectly target skills, knowledge or values that are not relevant enough to the business, the job or participants. Make sure that you know what matters most and invest accordingly.
3. Applying the wrong type of assessment. If the training is intended to result in practical application, for instance, do not assess simply for intellectual understanding of the content. Match the type of assessment to the specific desired results to get an accurate gauge of where people stand.