Publication Date
4-1987
Advisor(s) - Committee Chair
Larry Caillouet, Randall Capps, Kathleen Verderber
Degree Program
Department of Communication
Degree Type
Master of Arts
Abstract
In light of research that suggests that formal needs analysis leads to efficient and productive training programs, managers and a sampling of non-management employees from a mid-size manufacturing company participated in a needs assessment to determine future training needs for the company's mangers. The information was collected through focus group interviews and a Q-sort technique was developed to categorize the issues raised in the interviews. The categories of training issues and related concerns identified as a result of the focus group interview process were compared to a list of training topics generated by managers through an informal survey prior to the needs assessment. The comparison indicated that the training issues generated by managers in the informal survey were not congruent with the issues identified as a result of the needs assessment process. Comparisons were made between the major issues addressed by various departments, management levels, and functional groups. These comparisons indicated that some concerns were identified by all departments, management levels, and functional areas and could be defined as organizational concerns while other concerns were identified by specific departments, management levels, or functional areas.
Disciplines
Business | Communication | Human Resources Management | Organizational Communication | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Erb, Michele, "Identification of Training Needs: A Focus Group Interview/Q-Sort Methodology" (1987). Masters Theses & Specialist Projects. Paper 2313.
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/2313