Diagnosis of Training Needs (DNC)

Organizational, task and people analysis

Before investing in any educational program, it is imperative to carry out a needs detection or diagnosis to ensure that the investment is justified and not a simple "panacea".

This process requires an organizational analysis to study the company as a whole and its strategic objectives; a task analysis to determine the skills and behaviors needed in each position; and a people or individual analysis to identify who requires specific training.

By performing this diagnosis, the requirements of the position are compared with the current capabilities of the occupant, which allows identifying the knowledge gaps that need to be closed.

This systematic study avoids "training for training's sake" and ensures that training events are aligned with real production or service problems.

Overt vs. hidden needs

Training needs can take two main forms: overt and covert (or hidden).

Overt needs are obvious and arise from structural changes, personnel mobility, transfers or the arrival of new technological advances that require immediate preventive preparation.

On the other hand, uncovered needs are those that become evident when current workers present performance problems, lack of technical knowledge or repeated absenteeism, which require corrective training.

Identifying these needs requires the use of techniques such as brainstorming, questionnaires, surveys, interviews and observation guides to gather reliable data on what is really limiting the team's potential.

Annual planning and selection of training entities

Once the gaps have been identified, an annual training plan or program should be developed that includes clear and measurable objectives expressed in behavioral terms.

The organization must carefully select the suppliers or training entities in the market, assessing that their content is exactly what is needed to solve the deficiency identified.

This plan should be communicated and disseminated in advance to motivate voluntary staff participation, which has been shown to generate greater willingness to learn and more positive feedback.

Rigorous planning ensures that resources are optimally