Training Needs Analysis (TNA)
A Brief Description
A Training Needs Analysis (TNA) is an ‘organisational health check’.
By collecting data from a variety of sources, it is possible to objectively measure the achievement of objectives; customer satisfaction and employee performance. The TNA will identify the gap between actual and desired business performance and ensure that training needs are integrated with business outcomes.
The Process
An organisation will have a key motivator for undertaking a TNA:
- To match the services or products provided by competitors and to satisfy its customer’s requirements. To meet externally set standards e.g. IiP or ISO9000.
- To exceed its customer’s requirements and become more efficient in the use of systems and technology. To lead its competitors and exceed set standards.
- Adopting new strategies or undergoing large-scale change to create new products or services. Become a market leader.
To ensure the validity of TNA recommendations, the organisation must have a clearly defined vision and objectives that have been clearly communicated to all staff.
The TNA will provide a 360° view of development needs; the organisation, teams/groups and individuals.
Data used to identify development gaps may be drawn from many existing sources within the organisation:
Performance appraisals
- Skills Audits
- Employee Satisfaction Surveys
- Customer/Supplier Surveys
Other methods would also be used to obtain the required data:
- One to One Interviews (from a sample of the total group)
- Focus Groups (a sample of the total group)
- Learning Styles Questionnaires
- Management Styles Questionnaires
- STEP and SWOT Analysis
- Competency Frameworks
We will prepare a report and presentation for senior management. This will include the main findings, highlighting both training and non-training needs and with recommendations for development.
