Introduction to ISD Analysis
Analysis is the study we do in order to figure out what to do — Allison Rossett & Kendra Sheldon (2001)
The analysis phase is the building block of a training program. The basis for who will be trained, what must be learned, how it will occur, and where the training will take place are accomplished in this phase. The product of this phase is the foundation for all subsequent design and development activities.
Note that the steps (see the top of the left-hand column) in this version of the Analysis Phase differs from the original versions of ISD or ADDIE. Although the steps may differ, they still provide the same critical information as the original versions, while providing newer instructional design techniques than were unavailable when the ADDIE model was first introduced.
The analysis phase is often called a Front-End Analysis. That is, although you might perform analysis throughout the ISD process, such as in the design and development phases, this “front end” of the ISD process is where the main problem identification is performed, such as analyzing the job and selecting the tasks to train (U.S. Army Field Artillery School, 1984).
During the Front-End Analysis a Needs Assessment or Analysis is performed to determine and articulate the business unit or customer's learning, training, and performance needs (DeSimone, Werner, 2012).
Backwards Planning Model
When performing an analysis, it is best to take an approach that ensures the performance improvement initiative ties in with the organization's needs, vision, mission, and values. This connects each need with a metric to ensure that it actually does what it is supposed to do. This is best accomplished by linking performance analysis needs with the Four Levels of Evaluations to the four categories of analysis (Phillips & Phillips, 2002):
- Business Needs are linked to results
- Job Performance Needs are linked to behavior
- Training Needs are linked to learning
- Individual Needs are linked to reaction (motivation)
Linking the two will help you to plan backwards (work from top to bottom) as shown in this Backwards Planning Model (Chart 1):
Chart 1
The model (Chart 2) below shows a simplified example of the outputs of the above model:
Chart 2
Business Needs
To determine the business need, investigate the problem or performance initiative and see how it supports the mission statement, leader's vision, and/or organizational goals, etc. Fixing a problem or making a process better is just as good as an ROI, if not better. Organizations that focus strictly on ROI are normally focusing on cost-cutting. And you can only cut costs so far before you start stripping out the core parts of a business. A much better approach is to improve a performance or process that supports a key organization goal, vision, or mission.
When senior executives were asked the most important training initiatives, 77% cited, “aligning learning strategies with business goals”; 75% cited, “ensuring learning content meets workforce requirements”; and 72%, “boosting productivity and agility” (Training Magazine, Oct 2004). Thus, senior leaders are not looking at training to be a profit center (that is what other business units are for), rather they are looking at performance improvement initiatives to help grow the organization so that it can reach its goals and perform its mission.
The goal is to make an impact or get some sort of result. Once you have identified the gap between present performance and the organization's goals and vision; create a level 4 evaluation (impact) that measures it — that is, what criteria must be met in order to show that the gap has actually been bridged?
Job Performance Needs
While the first analysis looked at business needs, this analysis looks at the job performance needs and these two needs could slightly differ. The first need, business, often has a slightly more visionary or future look to it, while the job performance need normally looks at what is required now. Thus, business needs often tend to be more developmental in nature (future orientated), while job performance needs are normally more related towards the present.
This is perhaps the most important need to look at as it links the performer with the organization. When analyzing job performance, you want to look at the entire spectrum that surrounds the job: processes, environment, actual performance verses need performance, etc, thus it often helps to divide the analysis into three groups: people, data, and things.
Learning and Performance Aid Needs
As you assess the performance for any needed interventions, look at the Job/Performer requirements, that is, what does the performer needs to know and do in order for the performance intervention to be successful? In addition, look at how you are going to evaluate any learning requirements (level 2). It is one thing to determine the needs of the performers (such as skill, knowledge, & their self system [attitude, metacognition, etc.]), but it is quite another thing to ensure that those requirements actually take place.
In addition, performance aids or tools may be used in place of learning. For example, rather than memorizing a list of steps to perform, provide them a checklist, either paper or electronic. This reduces the amount of time needed for training.
Individual Needs
The Individual Needs align with Kirkpatrick's Reaction (see chart 1 above). However, Kirkpatrick's Reaction was mostly concerned with the level of the learner's happiness with the learning program. What this stage really needs is to ensure that the performance intervention (learning program) actually conforms to the individual requirements.
For example, in the Training Needs analysis it might be determined that the job holders need to learn a new process. In this need assessment, the target population is looked at more closely to determine the actual content, context, and delivery method of the performance intervention that will best fit their needs. The goal is to ensure that the intended learners see the real worth of the learning program. If you and their managers cannot convince them that they need to learn the new tasks (motivation), then they will probably never learn to to perform correctly or once they complete the learning program, they will probably not put their newly learned skills and knowledge to full use. Thus the individual needs are the foundation of the Four Needs:
A study by the National Center on the Educational Quality of the Workforce at the University of Pennsylvania found that a dollar invested by a company in education was more than twice as effective in boosting the firm's productivity as a dollar invested in new machinery —Task Force of the Human Resource Development.
A Circular Approach
As the chart below shows, this method of analysis has a circular causality in that you start at the top of the left column and work your way down to the bottom to complete the analysis phase. You then switch to the bottom of the right column and work your way up to design, develop, and evaluate the learning/training program. Each row of the chart should correspond with each other (e.g., the Results should directly tie in with the Goal of, "What is our organizational to improve the business?"
Next Steps
Go to the next section: Business Outcome
Return to the Table of Contents
View the Analysis Templates (contains several analysis templates)
View the Analysis Page
References
DeSimone, R. L., Werner, J. M. (2012). Human Resource Development. Mason, OH.: South-Western College Pub.
Phillips, J. & and Phillips, P. Reasons Why Training & Development Fails... and What You Can Do About It. Training Magazine, September 2002 (pp. 78-85).
U.S. Army Field Artillery School (1984). A System Approach To Training (Course Student textbook). ST - 5K061FD92
Rossett, A. & Sheldon, K. (2001). Beyond the Podium: Delivering Training and Performance to a Digital World. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer, p. 67.
Task Force of the Human Resource Development. Are You Getting the Results You Need? In Getting Results Through Learning by The University of North Texas Libraries and the U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved November 15, 2010 from http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/npr/library/book/results.htm