Helps organizations determine if they are ready to begin a human resource planning program which requires the organization to analyze current and future personnel requirements, to develop an internal support system providing sound performance management programs, and to develop internal support systems for managing employee careers. (CT)

The author defines self-instruction as any training method in which the trainee has control over the pace and to some extent the conditions of his learning. He discusses requirements for application of self-instructional methods: knowledge component isolation, material relevance, adaptable entry point, knowledge transfer exercises, feedback…

Describes the Minimal Acceptable Performance Standards (MAPS), which measures worker performance at Consolidated Edison Company. Steps in establishing standards are: to identify tasks to be performed, to establish behavior-oriented objectives, and to write items for lesson-plan content. Sample MAPS forms for a "job performance walkdown"…

Outlines a procedure for designing an industrial skills training program in which the trainer prepares a job analysis by actually learning about the job duties and equipment; writes instructional objectives for each equipment section; and combines sets of job photos, scripts, objectives, and other information into a study guide for trainees. (MF)

Presents a contingency model for decision making with regard to needs analysis methods. Focus is on 12 methods with brief discussion of their defining characteristics and some operational guidelines for their use. (JOW)