Unit 3 Assignment

Content

• Unit 3
• Synthesis of Needs Assessment and Asset/Capacity Building

INTRODUCTION

Although change can be perceived as inevitable, often there are systemic forces that can impede the efforts of change. Crucial to the facilitation of the organizational and community change efforts is the synthesis of needs assessment planning issues and asset/capacity building (A/CB). It can thus impact many aspects of the instruments of change components such as stakeholders or change agents, practices, and needs-based data gathering processes. For this, the cooperation and collaboration between needs assessment and A/CB are imperative for the facilitation of positive change.

Toggle DrawerHide Full Introduction

However, the forces of change threatening the efforts of change must be well assessed to aid in determining the needs-based situation or analysis of the problem concept. To do so, a hybrid framework can be created by combining Lewin's (1951) force field analysis model, SWOT analysis tool, and strategic planning process. The SWOT analysis is an assessment tool used to assess the strength, weakness, opportunity, and threats of the current needs-based situation and A/CB against the future situation.

There are many sources of needs-based data we can use to support an A/CB and public needs assessment process. Thus, what we need depends upon what we are studying in relation to A/CB and public needs assessment process. If our public problem concept is access to home- and community-based services, we may be gathering data from a number of places. We may need to determine how many people need this service, paid for under Medicaid. We also need to know how many licensed, and private providers are in the community. And finally, what do the people who need the services actually want?

As a real-life example of this, at one point the Medicaid data was available, but the last complete dataset was almost 2 years old. We could access public providers from licensing databases, but private providers who were small enough not to require a license were harder to find. And the participants themselves, the public who would be served by this program, had completely different needs. Some less obvious examples include in-home vet services for their pets, home improvement specialists to build ramps or create safe and accessible showers, and laundry services. Clearly, the databases for those services were very different.

The moral to the story is that each problem concept is unique. Who needs what is determined by those who will be served in the project, and the services and providers may have nothing to do with government agencies. That is why we, as public administrators, need to keep our minds open to the various possible solutions to our public's problems. This unit introduces some methods of performing the initial needs-based data gathering to inform the A/CB and needs assessment projects.

Reference

Lewin, K. (1964). Field theory in social science: Selected theoretical papers. New York, NY: Harper Torchbooks.

OBJECTIVES

To successfully complete this learning unit, you will be expected to:

o Explore the logic of force field analysis to evaluate the systemic forces impeding change efforts.

o Explore the logic of SWOT analysis to assess the current public needs assessments and asset/capacity building in addressing complex problems.

o Determine and compare sources of needs-based data gathering methods for reliability, consistency, and effectiveness in support of the needs assessment project.

o Apply stakeholder identification and strategic planning process to a specific community issue.

o Design an annotated outline for hybrid framework used in public needs assessment and asset/capacity building project selection processes.
As a real-life example of this, at one point the Medicaid data was available, but the last complete dataset was almost 2 years old. We could access public providers from licensing databases, but private providers who were small enough not to require a license were harder to find. And the participants themselves, the public who would be served by this program, had completely different needs. Some less obvious examples include in-home vet services for their pets, home improvement specialists to build ramps or create safe and accessible showers, and laundry services. Clearly, the databases for those services were very different.

The moral to the story is that each problem concept is unique. Who needs what is determined by those who will be served in the project, and the services and providers may have nothing to do with government agencies. That is why we, as public administrators, need to keep our minds open to the various possible solutions to our public's problems. This unit introduces some methods of performing the initial needs-based data gathering to inform the A/CB and needs assessment projects.

Reference

Lewin, K. (1964). Field theory in social science: Selected theoretical papers. New York, NY: Harper Torchbooks.

OBJECTIVES

To successfully complete this learning unit, you will be expected to:

1. Explore the logic of force field analysis to evaluate the systemic forces impeding change efforts.

2. Explore the logic of SWOT analysis to assess the current public needs assessments and asset/capacity building in addressing complex problems.

3. Determine and compare sources of needs-based data gathering methods for reliability, consistency, and effectiveness in support of the needs assessment project.

4. Apply stakeholder identification and strategic planning process to a specific community issue.

5. Design an annotated outline for hybrid framework used in public needs assessment and asset/capacity building project selection processes.

Unit 3 Study 1

Studies

SWOT Analysis and Organization Summary

Transcript

SWOT Analysis
Transcript
Readings

Note: Be certain to read the unit introduction, as it may contain important information and references pertaining to this unit's content and activities.

Use your Bridging the Gap Between Asset/Capacity Building and Needs Assessment text to complete the following:

• Read Chapter 2, "A Synthesis of Needs Assessment and Asset Capacity Building," pages 25-49.
• Read Chapter 3, "Looking Closely at the First Three Critical Steps in the Framework," pages 51-80.

Use the Capella library to complete the following:

• Read Baulcomb's 2003 article, "Management of Change Through Force Field Analysis," from Journal of Nursing Management, volume 11, issue 4, pages 275-280.

• Read Beagrie's 2004 article, "How to . . . Conduct a SWOT Analysis," from Personnel Today, page 21.

• Read the 2012 article "SWOT Analysis" from Encyclopedia of Management, page 977-980.

Multimedia

Despite the inevitability of needs-based change efforts in organizational and community settings, often certain systemic forces can impede the efforts of change. SWOT analysis is a useful analytic tool in assessing the systemic forces that can impede the facilitation of the organizational and community needs-based change efforts.

Article Search

In preparation for this unit's discussion, locate at least three peer-reviewed articles on needs assessment. Keep in mind that these should be peer-reviewed, not from literary sources (such as newspapers). You can use the Databases A-Z library guide for searching the articles.

Unit 3 Assignment 1

Community Needs Assessment and Asset/Capacity Building

Annotated Outline for Community Needs Assessment and Asset/Capacity Building Project Selection

For the assignments in this course, you will be planning for a public needs assessment project in your own community. You will not implement the project, but you will function as if you are the facilitator representing one of the stakeholder groups-private or public-for this project. (This is great practice for your action research dissertation project, as many of the functions here are the same as you will implement in the dissertation. Practicing the planning gets you a step ahead.)

In this assignment, you will provide a preliminary annotated outline to serve as a starting point for the subsequent assignments. While this assignment forms some of the basis or foundation for the final assignment (due in Unit 9), your Unit 7 assignment on the needs-based program intervention strategy will also enhance the final assignment that will be designed to deal with the problem or condition you plan to address. This assignment will provide an initial framework for all other components of the public needs assessment program planning process.

Create an annotated outline to serve as the preliminary basis for your final assignment that meets the course outcomes. In your annotated outline:

• Write 1-3 paragraphs for each section of your paper, indicating how you foresee the following main points (in no particular order) for the final assignment may be covered:

o Scope of a specific community problem and how you will ensure such needs-based issue is not too big to be realistic to achieve.

o Description of the problem concept and at which levels of measurement of the needs-based situation can be defined.

o Estimation of the numbers affected (target population).

o Identification of the factors that cause (etiology) the problem.

o Indication of a force field analysis to evaluate the systemic forces that can impede the change efforts.

o Indication of a SWOT analysis or any other appropriate analytic tool to assess the current public needs assessments and A/CB in addressing the complexity of the problems.

o Indication of a strategic planning process to the specific community issue.

o Evaluation of the theories and research methods to be used in public needs assessment processes.

o Indication of a rationale that justifies action and the expenditures of resources.

o Consideration of the stakeholders you would reach out to, to make sure there is good community, organizational, and government participation on the NAC. Determine community needs-based data gathering sources to support the project.

o Indication of a hybrid framework to be used in the public needs assessment and A/CB processes.

• Explain briefly how the above main points link to the course and how course content will be applied in practice.

The following sections or headings represent the types of content that need to be covered in your annotated outline:

• Introduction (all section suggestions assume double spacing with 1-inch margins all around and a standard font size as specified).
• Nature of the problem concept, scope, and measurement levels.
• The target population.
• Rationale for action.
• Hybrid framework for appropriate intervention strategy.
• Summary or conclusion.
• References.

Other Requirements

Your paper should meet the following requirements:

• Written communication: Present your annotated outline argument in a clear, logical, and interesting way. As you write this section, keep in mind that this is the first piece those who will make final decisions about whether to approve your needs assessment project proposal will read. Also, remember that this is the beginning of the final assignment for this course, so the good work you do now to create a solid beginning will make your end of the course that much easier.

• Resources: 2-3 peer-reviewed resources for each section of your paper. Identify where each supporting reference will be integrated.

• APA format: Be sure to format your paper using current APA style and formatting guidelines.

• Length of paper: 3-5 pages, excluding the cover page and references list.

Submit your annotated outline as a Word document in the assignment area. Your instructor will provide feedback to you on your paper.

Unit 3 Discussion 1

Collaboration in Data Gathering Methods

From the sources you have reviewed to date, including the articles on needs assessment that you located in this unit's studies, how easy or difficult would it be to gather accurate information to support the needs assessment process? How does this relate to modeling requirements of the hybrid framework used in public needs assessment and A/CB processes? What difficulties can you identify in getting consistent and reliable data?

The unit readings brought up the differences between collaborative and cooperative structures. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. Based on your studies thus far, what types of structure makes the most sense to you for the kinds of public issues that interest you? Please explain your rationale and reasoning for your selection.

Response Guidelines

Respond to the post of at least one peer, comparing what you have learned to what he or she noted. What suggestions for other data gathering methods do you have, and how did his or her post influence your own thinking? Compare at least one perspective of your peer with yours on the best match of model and project.