This study involved a survey of 140 state government agencies in 30 states. The survey examined basic questions related to training needs assessment, types and methodologies of training and training evaluation. The results presented here describe standard training practices and the degree to which state government agencies adhere to accepted practices in determining training needs, developing programs with outcome variables incorporated in the design, and assessing training outcomes.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AlligerGeorge M.JanakElizabeth A.. “Kirkpatrick's Levels of Training Criteria: Thirty Years Later.” Personnel Psychology42 (1989): 331–342.
2.
AmmonsDavid N.Niedzielski-EichnerPhillip A.. “Evaluating Supervisory Training in Local Government: Moving Beyond Concept to a Practical Framework.” Public Personnel Management14 (1985): 211–230.
3.
BaldwinTimothy T.FordKevin J.. “Transfer of Training: A Review and Directions for Future Research. Personnel Psychology41 (1988): 63–105.
4.
BaldwinTimothy T.MagjukaRichard J.LoherBrian T.. “The Perils of Participation: Effects of Choice of Training on Trainee Motivation and Learning.” Personnel Psychology44 (1991): 51–65.
5.
BanCarolynFaermanSue R.. “Issues in the Evaluation of Management Training.” Public Productivity and Management Review13 (1990): 271–287.
6.
BasarabDavid J.Sr.RootDarrell K.. The Training Evaluation Process. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1992.
7.
BoeselAndrew. “Federal Training Opportunities.” The Bureaucrat Spring (1987): 41.
8.
BrinkerhoffRobert O. “Expanding Needs Analysis.” Training and Development Journal40 (1986): 64–65. “An Integrated Evaluation model for HRD.” Training and Development Journal 42 (1988): 66–68.
9.
BroadMary L.NewstromJohn W.. Transfer of Training. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1992.
10.
ChildressGene W.BugbeeJohn A.. “Kentucky's Across the Board Effort at Making HRD Work.” Public Personnel Management15 (1986): 369–376.
11.
ClineErik B.SeibertPennie S.. “Help for First-Time Needs Assessors.” Training and Development Journal47 (1993): 99–104.
12.
DiLauroThomas J. “Training Needs Assessment: Current Practices and New Directions.” Public Personnel Management8 (1979): 350–359.
13.
DulleaJim. “A No-Cost Revitalization of Federal Training?” The Bureaucrat Fall (1991): 37–41.
14.
EwingBlair G.BursteinCarolynWickmanColette. “Meeting the Productivity Challenge in the Federal Government.” National Productivity Review Summer (1986): 253–261.
15.
FaermanSue R.BanCarolyn. “Trainee Satisfaction and Training Impact: Issues in Training Evaluation.” Public Productivity and Management Review16 (1993): 299–314.
16.
GoldsteinIrwin L.Training in Organizations.3rd ed.PacificGrove, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing, 1993.
17.
GoldsteinIrwin L.BravermanEric P.GoldsteinHarold W.. “Needs Assessment.” In WexleyKenneth N., ed. Developing Human Resources. Washington, DC: The Bureau of National Affairs, 1991.
18.
HassPeter F. “A Comparison of Training Priorities of Local Government Employees and Their Supervisors.” Public Personnel Management20 (1991): 225–233.
19.
HawthorneElizabeth M.Evaluating Employee Training Programs. New York: Quorum Books, 1987.
20.
HerbertGlenn R.DoverspikeDennis. “Performance Appraisal in the Training Needs Analysis Process: A Review and Critique.” Public Personnel Management19 (1990): 253–270.
21.
HicksWilliam D.KlimoskiRichard J.. “Entry intoTtraining Programs and its Effects on Training Outcomes: A Field Experiment.” Academy of Management Journal30 (1987): 542–552.
22.
HilliardCora L. “Management Development at Work in Texas.” Public Personnel Management (1986): 377. “Industry Report 1992,” Training 29 (1992): 25–28.
23.
KirkpatrickDonald L.Evaluating Training ProgramsMadison, WI: American Society for Training and Development, 1975. “Evaluation of Training.” In CraigRobert L., ed.
24.
Training and Development Handbook: A Guide to Human Resource Development. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1976. “Four Steps to Measuring Training Effectiveness.” Personnel Administrator 28 (1983): 19–25.
25.
KolbDavid A. “Management and the Learning Process.” California Management Review18 (1976): 21–31.
26.
MathieuJohn E.MartineauJennifer W.TannenbaumScott I.. “Individual and Situational Influences on the Development of Self-Efficacy: Implications for Training Effectiveness.” Personnel Psychology46 (1993): 125–147.
27.
McGeheeWilliamThayerPaul W.. Training in Business and Industry. New York: Wiley and Sons, 1961.
28.
MillerScott Gerald. “Effects of a Municipal Training Programon Employee Behavior and Attitude.” Public Personnel Management19 (1990): 429–441.
29.
MooreMichael L.DuttonPhilip. “Training Needs Analysis: Review and Critique.” Academy of Management Review3 (1978): 532–545.
30.
NoeRaymond A. “Trainees' Attributes and Attitudes: Neglected Influences on Training Effectiveness.” Academy of Management Review11 (1986): 736–749.
31.
NowackKenneth M. “A True Training Needs Analysis.” Training and Development Journal45 (1991): 69–73.
32.
OstroffCheriFordKevin J.. “Assessing Training Needs: Critical Levels of Analysis.” In GoldsteinIrwin L., ed. Training and Development in Organizations. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, Inc., 1989.
33.
RiceMitchell F. “Training in a Federal Agency: A ResearchNote.” Southern Review of Public Administration2 (1979): 488–495.
34.
RossettAllison. Training Needs Assessment. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology, 1987.
35.
SchneierCraig EricGuthrieJames P.OlianJudy D.. “A Practical Approach to Conduction and Using the Training Needs Assessment.” Public Personnel Management17 (1988): 191–205.
36.
SheltonSandraAlligerGeorge. “Who's Afraid of Level 4 Evaluation? A Practical Approach.” Training and Development Journal47 (1993): 43–46.
37.
SimsRonald R. “Developing the Learning Climate in Public Sector Training Programs.” Public Personnel Management21 (1992): 335–346. Training Enhancement in Government Organizations. Westport, CT: Quaorum Books, 1993.
38.
SimsRonald R.SimsSebrenia J.. “Improving Training in the Public Sector.” Public Personnel Management20 (1991): 71–82.
39.
SimsRonald R.VeresJohn G.IIIHeningerSusan M.. “Training for Competence.” Public Personnel Management18 (1989): 101–107.
40.
WexleyKennethLathamGary. Developing and Training Human Resources in Organizations. New York: Harper-Collins, 1991.
41.
WolfDona. “Revitalizing Federal Training and Development.” The Bureaucrat Summer (1991): 19–22.
42.
WooldridgeBlue. “Increasing the Productivity of Public-Sector Training.” Public Productivity Review12 (1988): 205–217.
43.
WrightPhillip C.GeroyGary D.. “Needs Analysis Theory and the Effectiveness of Large-Scale Govemment-Sponsored Training Programmes: A Case Study.” Journal of Management Development1 (1992): 16–27.
44.
ZemkeRon. “The Systems Approach: A Nice Theory But.” Training October (1985): 103–108.
