Describes how Hughes Aircraft trainers followed four steps in meeting the challenges of a flexible manufacturing environment: needs assessment, design strategy, pilot evaluation, and follow-through. Within this environment, 50 self-paced training products were developed for one of the company's wire and back plane harness assembly departments. (CT)

Examines problem areas of training needs analysis (TNA), first by presenting a model of the TNA process, then by listing sources of data available for TNA (based on an analysis of the literature), and finally by proposing a method of choosing appropriate data-gathering techniques for TNA. (CT)

Presents results of a national survey of training and development executives concerning the state of U.S. employee training. Examples of the topics covered by the survey include corporate philosophy, staffing considerations, needs assessment, training participation, program topics, methods and materials, and program evaluation. (CT)

Four training experts are interviewed regarding developing training programs on an unfamiliar topic. They all said: teach yourself first, determine the needs to be met, and use the experts. They disagreed on the degree of knowledge a trainer should attempt to achieve and the types of resources trainers should use. (CT)

The author argues that curriculum design requires viewing the whole fabric of management training in its totality; individual training programs are created from this perspective. The challenge in this case is to build a coherent plan that will provide structure and unity to the whole management training program. (Author/SSH)

Explains how to design training programs in which the trainer and the work group collaborate on designing a program that produces agreed-upon behavioral changes in employee performance. The modified critical incident technique is a diagnostic tool which provides information concerning the cost effectiveness of education and training programs. (CT)

Consists of four views regarding assessment of the need for new types of educational technology within human resource development programs. Makes recommendations on questions to ask when considering implementation of computer-assisted instruction, interactive video, or telecommunications. (CH)

Four human resource managers present their recommendations for establishing training/human resource development departments. They discuss the following elements: chief executive office support, the role of formal needs analysis, the role of operating managers, market research, and having a sense of teamwork. (CT)

The Instructional Systems Design model is presented. Phases of the model are explained. They are: (1) analysis (organizational, learner, and job needs, and evaluation); (2) design (objectives, specifications, strategies, evaluation); (3) development (evaluation, tests, media, materials); and (4) implementation (instructor characteristics, training…