Assessment item 2
Needs Assessment Report
Value: 30%
Due date: 01-May-2017
Return date: 22-May-2017
Length: approx. 2000 words excluding items listed below
Submission method options
Alternative submission method
Task
Prepare a Training and/or Development Needs Assessment of an organisation/ organisational area that you are familiar with or have access to based on the work you completed in assessment 1.
In undertaking the assignment, please ensure that you are able to demonstrate an understanding of the process to assessing training and development needs. The Needs Assessment should identify one main training and / or development need and recommend options e.g. training programs that would address this need. In Assessment 3 you will develop these.
In your submission, you should:
Explain the reason for undertaking a needs assessment, this may include identification of performance gaps;
Explain and justify the method you have chosen to conduct the needs assessment;
Evaluate the needs assessment process used to determine if training and/or development is necessary; and
Examine possible outcomes if needs assessment is not properly planned or conducted.
Ensure that relevant academic literature is used to support your discussions. This should go beyond the text book and be current i.e. generally less than five years old.

Rationale

This assessment will enable students to demonstrate their understanding of the various learning theories covered in Topics 2-5 and:

• be able to identify and critically evaluate the environmental forces influencing Australian organisations;
• be able to conduct a strategic needs analysis;
• be able to apply relevant concepts in an organisational setting;
• be able to synthesis and critically evaluate relevant academic literature, and
• be able to apply practical reasoning to address real world problems.
This assignment is designed to assess learning outcomes:
• be able to recommend suitable learning theories that can be utilised in specific organisational environments; and
• be able to conduct a strategic needs analysis for an organisation.

Marking criteria

Criteria
HD D C P FL
2: Needs Assessment Report (30%)
Comprehension and analysis:
Needs Assessment clearly identifies the main training and/or development need.

Recommendations are made to address the identified need.
50 marks
Clear and logical
application of
Needs Assessment; performance gaps clearly identified and thoroughly discussed with descriptions complete and focussed; choice of needs
Assessment method(s) is well justified with relevant quality academic literature.

There is strong evidence of critical thinking when evaluating and reflecting on the needs assessment process and possible problems

Recommendations are provided to address the identified need – these are discussed providing clear, convincing and succinct rationale which draws on relevant literature to justify choices.

.

Clear and logical
application of Needs Assessment; performance gaps clearly identified and discussed, with description complete and focussed; choice of
needs assessment method(s) is largely well justified with relevant academic literature.

There is strong evidence of critical thinking when evaluating and reflecting on the needs assessment process and possible problems.

Recommendations are provided to address the identified need – these are discussed providing clear and convincing rationale which draws on relevant literature to justify choices.
Clear and logical
application of Needs Assessment; performance gaps identified and discussed with description complete; choice of
needs assessment method(s) is justified with some examples of academic literature.

Evidence of critical thinking when evaluating and reflecting on the needs assessment process and possible problems.

Recommendations are provided to address the identified need – these are discussed clearly and draw upon some literature to justify choices.
Adequate application of
Needs Assessment; lacks some detail in identifying
performance gaps; choice of needs assessment method(s) is discussed with some relevant academic literature.

Some evidence of critical thought when evaluating and reflecting on the needs assessment process and possible problems, but tends to be mostly descriptive.

Recommendations are provided to address the identified need – discussion of which is at times unclear. Draw on literature, some of which are not credible or relevant.

.

Does not clearly apply the
Needs Assessment;
provides an unsatisfactory identification of performance gaps; a
weak and descriptive
justification of choice of needs assessment method(s) is discussed with minimal reference to academic literature.

Little evidence of critical thinking when evaluating and reflecting on the needs assessment process and possible problems.

Recommendations are not offered or the ones provided do not address the identified need; discussion of recommendations is unclear and do not link to credible or relevant literature.

Evidence Base:
Relevant academic literature is used to support discussion.

40 marks
An extensive range of relevant literature from academic sources has been synthesised, substantially supporting discussions.
An extensive range of relevant literature from academic sources has been evaluated in supporting discussions.
Sound base of evidence including relevant academic resources provided throughout to support the discussions.
Adequate base of evidence
from relevant academic resources provided to support discussions, with some minor errors in quality and/or range of evidence
Little or no attempt to include evidence from relevant academic resource to support discussions.
Presentation:

Conforms to academic writing conventions of Needs assessment (requirements as outlined in subject outline, and demonstrated in text book)

Utilises APA 6 referencing conventions

10 marks
The content has been logically and succinctly structured to create a cohesive, coherent and complete Needs Assessment . Formal academic language and precise and correct discipline and professional terminology has been used to clearly communicate meaning. There is consistent adherence to grammatical conventions.

Shows superior understanding of the use of APA 6 referencing conventions.

The content has been logically structured to create a coherent and complete Needs Assessment.
Formal academic language and correct discipline and professional terminology has been used to clearly communicate meaning. There is consistent adherence to grammatical conventions.

Shows a high level understanding of the use of APA 6 referencing conventions.
The content has been logically structured to create a complete Needs Assessment. Formal academic language has been used to clearly communicate meaning. There is mostly consistent adherence to grammatical conventions. Although some minor errors remain.

Shows a complete and adequate use of APA 6 referencing conventions.
An attempt has been made to structure content logically in a suitable Needs Assessment format; although at times it is descriptive and lacks some coherency.
An attempt to use mostly formal academic language has been used to communicate meaning.
Grammatical conventions have been adhered to, although there are minor errors.

Shows a somewhat appropriate use of APA 6 referencing conventions; and/or displays some minor errors in referencing.

The content has been lacks the structure required to create a suitable Needs assessment and/or is predominately descriptive.
Formal and informal language has been used to communicate meaning and, in many areas, the meaning is unclear.
The work includes multiple grammatical errors.

Shows a limited understanding of the use of APA 6 referencing conventions and/or includes multiple errors.
Total: /100 Weighted Total: /30
Presentation
As this is a Masters level subject, it is assumed that you are familiar with the conventions of academic writing. In terms of requirements specific to this subject, you should observe the following:
• Use report format and avoid dot point in your discussions. Visit this link to find information about academic writing: http://student.csu.edu.au/study/learning-support;
• Include a title page that shows the subject code and name, your name and student number, the assignment title/number;
• Provide a table of contents , a brief introduction and conclusion- these are not included in the word count;
• Include a header showing the subject code, assignment number, your name and student number;
• Number each page;
• Use 12 point font, 1.5 line spacing;
• Do not use footnotes, endnotes or appendices.
• In-text citations and a reference list (not bibliography) must be provided when referencing information from the textbook;
Use the APA system of referencing. A guide on how to reference using this system is provided in the Study tab of your student homepage.
Word count does not include Executive Summary , Introduction , Conclusion,Material in Tables, Table of Contents, or References.