Beware your 'Training Needs Analysis'

"Quite often a 'Training Needs Analysis' is conducted by wandering around asking important people what they think less important people need to know. They usually have no shortage of ideas."

Nick Shakleton Jones

From my experiences, a 'TNA' can be a defensive instrument which only maintains the status quo approach to learning. Some questions to consider around the role and approach to 'Training Needs Analysis':

Is the use of the word 'Training' deliberate and relevant? How might this preempt outcomes and reinforce existing expectations?

Who decides the construct of the 'TNA' template? Why?

How effectively does the 'TNA' enable the agreed learning strategy?

How effectively does the 'TNA' capture the context within which people are working and need to learn?

How effectively does the 'TNA' limit the risk of jumping to solutions?






I work as a thinking partner and advisor with mid sized, value oriented companies going through significant change. I help you to build new capability and mindsets through shifting your approach to organisational development.

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