HANDOUT: Introduction to Assessing Community Needs

Needs Assessment
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Definition:
A needs assessment is a process used by organizations to determine priorities, make organizational improvements, or allocate
resources. It involves determining the needs, or gaps, between where the organization envisions itself in the future and the
organization's current state. You then develop a plan of action to address the needs (or closing the gaps) to bring the organization
closer to its desired future state.

Steps

I. Exploration and identification

During the first phase of the needs assessment, you need to determine what you already know about your organization's needs,
whether it be additional resources, new technologies, or market expansion. It's about figuring out where you are and where you want
to be. You also need to discover other undisclosed needs that may be hindering you from moving from where you are to where you
want to be. You will often rank these needs in order of importance. You will then set the scope of your research. In other words, the
needs you are going to focus upon.

II. Data gathering and analysis

At this stage you are collecting the information you need to better understand the gaps (needs) between where you are and
where you want to be. Data may be collected from internal company records or externally through various research techniques such as
surveys and analysis of secondary data including statistical data collected by the federal government. After the data is collected, it is
organized and analyzed.

III. Utilization

This is where the data you analyzed is used to create a plan of action and implement it. You will set priorities, evaluate
solutions, apply a cost-benefit analysis to determine which solution is best in light of the relative costs and benefits of each, formulate
a plan to implement your solution, and then allocate the resources necessary for implementation. Again, the goal is to develop a plan
to close the gaps between the organization's desired future state and its current state.
 IV.Evaluation

While many organizations will not evaluate the results of their needs assessment, smart organizations do. You will evaluate the
results of the action plan against the results: has the action plan placed you closer to where you want to be? Evaluation can help you
determine what made an action plan successful or find the errors in your needs assessment. For example, did you miss an important
gap, or were the resources you allocated insufficient to close the gap?
 Types of Needs Assessments
Description
Existing Data Statistics and reports of
community-related data
Attitude Survey Representative sample of
population is asked to
respond about issues
(personal or telephone
interviews, questionnaires)
Key Informant Community leaders help
identify priority needs and
concerns
Group Sessions Use group or public sessions
to identify and analyze ideas,
issues and opinions
Pros Cons
Data already exists Info may be dated
Quick access Lacks peoples perceptions
Can chart changes of needs
Valid data from broad Can be costly
range of people Have to build survey
Can find out behavioral which can be tricky
info and opinions
Quick & Inexpensive Information is likely
Questionnaire easy to biased by age,
prepare occupation
Provides valuable Few informants can
contacts represent the entire
population
Quick & Inexpensive Attendees may not
Input from wide variety represent population
of people Attendees may come
Can aid public relations with negative attitude
efforts May heighten public
Can ask more and expectations beyond
deeper questions to get reasonable limits
clarity Need skilled moderator