Needs assessment: stages of approach implementation
The natural stage of business development is to implement several initiatives at the same time. In this case, however, it is difficult to prioritise projects properly. The solution is a needs assessment. This approach helps to identify the processes that need improvement in the first place.
A needs assessment helps to identify gaps between current and desired outcomes. Marketers see this approach as part of strategic planning and it helps them understand how the organisation achieves its goals. In this case, we see a need as an opportunity that will improve the progress of a particular process. The result could improve efficiency in a particular area, streamline operations, or allow for smarter allocation of resources.
How to conduct an assessment
Needs analysis provides an objective picture of how the system works. Based on the findings, productivity can be significantly improved, helping to achieve business goals faster. The analysis process should involve not only team members but also all stakeholders, including sponsors.
The assessment includes the following steps:
- Identifying the team’s needs. This requires capturing what the ideal process is for the company. It should be measurable and allow progress to be tracked.
- Capturing desired outcomes. Clear objectives and deadlines need to be set.
- Gathering internal information. This stage helps you understand how to get from the current state to the desired state. Specialists and stakeholders are engaged to gather the necessary data. One method might be brainstorming.
- Collecting external information. Internal data can be supplemented by analysing external sources to build a complete picture of the process. Customer surveys, focus groups and other methods can be useful.
- Obtaining feedback. An important step is to gather opinions from different groups of people to understand how changes will affect perceptions. The feedback will allow you to assess potential risks of employee resistance.
- Implementing the effort. This step is to develop a process improvement strategy based on the data collected previously.
When developing a change plan, the team should consider the use of technology solutions. It is important to identify which systems and programmes will help achieve the desired results. It is also essential to train staff to work in the new environment. Developing training programmes and outsourcing technical assistance will be an effective approach. Companies often outsource to strengthen a particular area.
A needs assessment provides a clear action plan for implementing improvements. However, remember that results will not be immediate. The optimal approach is to set interim goals that will track even minimal achievements.
