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Consider the following dialogue between a systemsprofessional, John Juan, and a manager of a department targeted for a new information system, Peter Pedro:Juan: The way to go about the analysis is to first examine the old system, such as reviewing key documents and observing the workers perform their tasks. Then we can determine which aspects are working well and which should be preserved.Pedro: We have been through these types of projects before and what always ends up happening is that we do not get the new system we are promised; we get a modified version of the old system.Juan: Well, I can assure you that will not happen this time. We just want a thorough understanding of what is working well and what isn’t.Pedro: I would feel much more comfortable if we first started with a list of our requirements. We should spend some time up-front determining exactly what we want the system to do for my department. Then you systems people can come in and determine what portions to salvage if you wish. Just don’t constrain us to the old system.Required:a.Obviously these two workers have different views on how the systems analysis phase should be conducted. Comment on whose position you sympathize with the most.b.What method would you propose they take? Why?Well, before I start, let me first define analysis phase and it's categories of analysis.The analysis phase is the building block of a training program. The basis for who must be trained, what must be trained, when training will occur, and where the training will take place are accomplished in this phase. The product of this phase is the foundation for all subsequent development activities. The analysis phase is often called a Front-End Analysis. That is, although you might perform analysis throughout the ISD process, such as in the design and development phases, this "front end" of the ISD process is where the main problem identification is performed.When performing an analysis, it is best to take a long term approach to ensure that the performance improvement initiative ties in with the organization's vision, mission, and values. This connects each need with a metric to ensure that it actually does what it is supposed to do. This is best accomplished by linking performance analysis needs with Kirkpatrick's Four Levels of Evaluations, which means their are four catagories of analysis (Phillips, 2002).Business NeedsInvestigate the problem or performance initiative and see how it supports the mission statement, leader's vision, and/or organizational goals, etc. Fixing a problem or making a process better is just as good as an ROI, if not better. Organizations that focus strictly on ROI are normally focusing on cost-cutting. And you can only cut costs so far before you start stripping out the core parts of a business. A much better approach is to improve a performance or process that supports a key organization goal, vision, or mission. When senior executives were asked the most important training initiatives, 77% cited, "aligning learning strategies with business goals"; 75% cited, "ensuring learning content meets workforce requirements"; and 72%, "boosting productivity and agility" (Training Magazine, Oct 2004). Thus, senior leadership is not looking at training to be a profit center (that is what other business units are for), rather they are looking at performance improvement initiatives to help "grow" the organization so that it can reach its goals and perform its mission. The goal is to make an impact or get some sort of result. So once you have identified the gap between present performance and the organization's goals and vision; create a level 4 evaluation (impact) that measures it -- that is, what criteria must be met in order to show that the gap has actually been bridged?Job Performance NeedsWhile the first analysis looked at business needs, this analysis looks at the job performance needs and these two needs could slightly differ. The first need, business, often has a slightly more visionary or future look to it, while the job performance need normally looks at what is needed now. Thus, business needs often tend to be more developmental in nature (future orientated), while job performance needs are normally more related towards the present. This is perhaps the most important need to look at as it links the performer with the organization. When analyzing job performance, you want to look at the entire spectrum that surrounds the job: processes, environment, actual performance verses need performance, etc, thus it often helps to divide the analysis into three groups: people, data, and things.Training NeedsAs you assess the performance for any needed interventions, look at the Job/Performer requirements, that is, what the performer needs to know in order for the performance intervention to be successful. In addition, look at how you are going to evaluate any learning requirements (level 2). It is one thing to determine the learning needs (skill, knowledge, & self system [attitude, metacognition, etc.]), but it is quite another thing to ensure that those requirements actually take place.Individual NeedsIt ensures that the performance intervention actually conforms to the individual requirements. For example, in the Training Needs analysis, it might be determined that the job holders need to learn a new process. In this need analysis, the target population is looked at more closely to determine the actual content, context, and delivery method of the performance intervention.***On the dialogue above, obviously I would prefer to sympathize with Peter Pedro since he is the manager of a department targeted for a new information system. It was stated about the analysis phase that when performing an analysis, it is best to take a long term approach to ensure that the performance improvement initiative ties in with the organization's vision, mission, and values. This connects each need with a metric to ensure that it actually does what it is supposed to do. Since Peter Pedro is the manager of the department, well he obviously knows what is best for the information system that will be implemented on his department. He is the one who surely knows all the transactions being processed in the department which will be appended on the information system that John Juan would be developing.***I would propose they will take the method that Peter Pedro had suggested for the analysis phase of the system. Since Peter Pedro is the acting client on the proposed system, of course he would be the one to specify the needs of his department that the system would have. Understanding a clients business is central to developing the right solution and the analysis stage allows Tectura to develop this knowledge. It is also the stage where John Juan and the other systems people work with their clients such as Peter Pedro to examine the standard software functionality and whether their specific business requirements will mean modifications or customisation of the standard software.
http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/sat2.htmlhttp://www.au.tectura.com/Page/cm95/Analsis_phase_95.asp?d=1
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