Explore multiple practical and theoretical dimensions of needs assessment. This volume focuses exclusively on this essential topic for guiding decisions examining subjects such as: the importance of defining needs, implementing assessments in public and private-sector organizations, aligning needs with assets and capacity assessments, how assessments factor into meaningful change at the organizational and society levels how to apply needs assessments in culturally diverse contexts conducting international needs assessments, and the impact of technologies on needs assessment methods. This issue will help professionals within public and private organizations conduct useful assessments, ones leading to results that can be applied in decisions. This is the 144th issue in the New Directions for Evaluation series from Jossey-Bass. It is an official publication of the American Evaluation Association.

Explore multiple practical and theoretical dimensions of needsassessment. This volume focuses exclusively on this essential topicfor guiding decisions--examining subjects such as:* the importance of defining needs* implementing assessments in public and private-sectororganizations* aligning needs with assets and capacity assessments* how assessments factor into meaningful change at theorganizational and society levels* how to apply needs assessments in culturally diversecontexts* conducting international needs assessments, and* the impact of technologies on needs assessment methods.This issue will help professionals within public and privateorganizations conduct useful assessments, ones leading to resultsthat can be applied in decisions.This is the 144th issue in the New Directions for Evaluationseries from Jossey-Bass. It is an official publication of theAmerican Evaluation Association.

EDITORS' NOTES 1James W. Altschuld, Ryan Watkins1. A Primer on Needs Assessment: More Than 40 Years ofResearch and Practice 5James W. Altschuld, Ryan WatkinsThis chapter provides an overview of needs assessment'srich history, definitions, models, tools, and techniques thatclosely align its theory, research, and practice and itsassociation with several other fields, notably strategic planningand evaluation.2. Needs: Defining What You Are Assessing 19Ryan Watkins, Jolanta KavaleThe nagging concern over numerous definitions of a"need" and how those definitions affect the assessmentof needs are the focus of this chapter.3. Needs Assessment: The Perspective From the Public Sector33Molly Engle, James W. AltschuldWhile looking at needs is commonly done in many public-sectoragencies, the authors question how it is done and if it focuses toonarrowly on deficits or gaps and not incorporating assets.4. Needs Assessments in the Private Sector 47John WedmanIn this chapter, the author examines how needs assessments canidentify solutions that will improve individual and groupperformance, as well as produce valued business results.5. Needs Assessments to Determine Training Requirements61Traci Lepicki, Adrienne BoggsThis chapter describes needs assessment within the context of aspecific workforce development project, offering the assessmentprocess, phases, and levels, and the implications and lessonslearned when considering training needs.6. International Perspectives: Similarities and DifferencesAround the Globe 75Maurya West Meiers, Ryan Watkins, Kristin Marsh SongNeeds assessments are occurring across the globe and theseauthors not only provide examples of such practice, but they alsogive useful guidelines for how to navigate the choppy waters ofculture and tradition.7. Needs Assessment and Asset/Capacity Building: A PromisingDevelopment in Practice 89James W. Altschuld, Hsin-Ling (Sonya) Hung, Yi-Fang LeeFor a period of time, there have been sharp criticisms of thepremise of needs (starting from deficits) as opposed to asset-basedplanning and a hybrid model of the two as a new approach toplanning and development is explained.8. A Final Note About Improving Needs Assessment Research andPractice 105Ryan Watkins, James W. AltschuldAs the practice of needs assessment evolves, newer methods areappearing on the scene as well as the necessity for conductingpractical, applied research on the conduct of assessment.INDEX 115