Quantum² : Quantum² Framework : Needs Assessment

Needs Assessment

The objective of Needs Assessment is to understand in detail what information employees in different functional groups need (in addition to, or as opposed to what they say they want!), how they prefer to receive it, and what difficulties they may encounter in accessing it. The needs assessment requires that employees (the library's total potential market) be segmented according to characteristics placing them in logical information-need groups. Those groups are then placed in priority order; the focus of the library's efforts must be the client groups with the greatest influence over the organization's fortunes.

The members of each group are then approached in order to discover the full range of their information needs. Methods include informal conversations, individual interviews, focus groups, and surveys. Their responses are then analyzed for clues as to what information offerings are appropriate.

Key questions:

• What are the key tasks of targeted knowledge workers?
• Where are current and potential clients going to supply themselves with information?
• What systems are employees using at their desktops?
  

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