Q: We have a company that has asked our company to work on determining training outcomes and competencies based on specialized training this company offers to their employees. The company is not asking us to create the training, they already have it, but what I think they want is how to set up the training outcomes and competencies. I know this is not a lot of information, the client had mentioned it in passing while we were meeting with them on another subject. I am planning to talk to the client again to get further clarification but I thought you may be able to help with some questions to ask or maybe this is something that LERN has a model for already?
A: First of all, you do indeed need to be sure what they are asking for. If you produce the wrong thing in the end, it will not help the relationships. It might be that they are requesting that you articulate the outcomes for the training, and that you do a job/task analysis based on the specific jobs of the person(s) they are training. I'd find out if they already have a job/task analysis. If they do, it's a matter of selecting the skills/knowledge they are looking for people to get in the training and then articulating those in the forms of learning objectives. So, basically, you'd just be choosing from a list. More likely, they don't have the job/task analysis and they'd like you to do that first. Some states have job/task analysis done for certain common positions because the educational institutions in the state use them to create classes for degree programs. You could inquire with the testing people on your campus, or some other department that might create classes for these kinds of workers. If no job/task analysis has been done, you need to do one or hire someone to do one. If you've never done one, it's probably the latter.
LERN wouldn't create a model for this because there are literally thousands of jobs out there and because other organizations do this and do it well.
I would suggest you go on the internet, Google "job task analysis needs assessment" and see what you get. This reading will help prepare you for your next conversation with the client. If you still have your slide book from the presentation, I had a few slides in there on this very subject. Also, go to www.ASTD.org and look in their product line called INFO LINES and look for Needs Assessments and an INFO LINE that might have job/task analysis information. Usually those cost about $20 and you can download the PDF immediately.