Reviews three areas of knowledge needed to select an appropriate needs assessment strategy: (1) the criteria for selecting the method, (2) nine needs assessment methods, and (3) a means of categorizing methods. Provides an example of an assessment activity conducted in a small rural hospital. (LRA)

Presents a method for holistic organizational analysis that provides developers with a rationale to obtain data and decision bases for successful internal and extraorganizational intervention and change. The analysis, based on the Organizational Elements Model, relates organizational resources, efforts, results, and organizational impact. Presents…

A systematic methodology is proposed for the evaluation of curriculum. Four domains are identified, including the evaluation of: (1) curriculum planning; (2) curriculum development; (3) curriculum implementation; and (4) curriculum effects. Evaluating curriculum planning must include determining the legality of the curriculum and must consider the…

Needs assessment is one phase of preparing a proposal for a grant. Federal and State contracting officers examine closely the degree to which needs of a school system have been systematically appraised. Introduces principles and techniques of needs assessment. (Author/JN)

Intended to provide assistance to non-technical end-users in evaluating the applicability of microcomputer-based systems to their needs and in choosing appropriate systems, this document recommends first identifying requirements and then identifying and evaluating alternative sources for application software, system software and hardware, and…

This article reviews a number of guidance evaluation materials and programs presently in use in terms of Stufflebeam's CIPP model. Some materials were simple evaluation instruments; others were as comprehensive as process guides for the planning, development, and application of a complete systems approach evaluation. (Author)

A generalizable systems-based needs analysis model was developed to help school district testing and evaluation offices evaluate current problems with their information processing systems and identify additional computer capabilities required to upgrade their systems. The model contains four main phases, namely: definition of the department…

Needs assessment is a systematic procedure by which educational needs are identified and ranked in order of priority. The process involves the use of both objective (achievement test scores) and subjective (attitudinal measures) information to identify and rank educational needs. A procedure to guide the needs assessment effort includes various…

Practices in needs assessment are reviewed since 1981, the year the federal government changed the role it plays in promoting needs assessment in the public sector. The review is based on reports published to 1993 and indicates that needs assessment is flourishing in a variety of settings. (SLD)

This background paper on refugee needs assessment discusses the assumptions, goals, objectives, strategies, models, and methods that the state refugee programs can consider in designing their strategies for assessing the mental health needs of refugees. It begins with a set of background assumptions about the ethnic profile of recent refugee…

One of the major tenets of Total Quality Management (TQM) is that organizations need to adopt a strong customer focus. At El Camino College (ECC) in Torrance, California, a matrix was developed to identify and describe ECC's direct and indirect internal and external customers. ECC then applied Quality Function Deployment (QFD), a strategic tool…

Recent applications of the strategic planning approach in colleges and universities and techniques necessary for its application are reviewed. In addition, the intellectual roots of strategic planning are traced, and strategic planning is defined and contrasted with long-range planning. It is suggested that strategic planning addresses the total…