Situational and Needs Analysis The Foundation for Program Planning

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Situational and Needs Analysis The Foundation for
Program Planning

• Dallas L. Holmes EdD
• Institutional Research
• Utah State University Extension

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The Process

• One of the most important functions of Extension
  educators is to make accurate assessments of
  people in their county or region. The
  situational analysis is essential in determining
  the needs of individuals and communities.

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Situational and Needs Analysis

• Situational analysis is critical to identifying
  needs. There are always more situations that need
  attention than you can possibly address due to
  time and resource needs.
• We must be proactive about program priorities.
  The scope of the analysis should have a clear
  focus and purpose directed toward a specific
  subject, clientele, time, location or other
  related factors.
• Get advice from stakeholders who will help focus
  efforts on needs-based programs.

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Situational Analysis - Some Factors to Consider

• County or community demographics
• The economic structure of the county and its
  individual communities.
• Topography and other physical characteristics of
  the county or area.

• Government, public, private community and other
  support systems available.
• Population characteristics
• educational levels
• cultural characteristics
• life styles and standards of living
• primary Occupations
• Income levels
• mobility and rates of in and out migration
• services available

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Maintain Objectivity in Situational Analysis

• Be certain to include groups and individuals
  representative of the countys citizens or of the
  target audience

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Needs Assessment in Extension

• Use the BUGS formula to facilitate Extension
  Program Planning
• B usiness_____________________
• U niversity____________________
• G overnment__________________
• S pecial Sector_________________
• Extension Planning requires systematic and widely
  representative opinions, attitudes and input. The
  old reliablesare just not enough

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Assess Needs in Many Ways

• Advisory Councils
• Task Forces
• Voluntary Organizations
• Community Representatives

• Nominal Group Technique
• Brainstorming
• Focused Group Interviews
• Face-to-Face Surveys
• Mailed or Telephone Surveys

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Get Needs Assessment Feedback from

• State Program Leaders and Specialists
• Observations - environmental scanning
• County Educator Observations
• Conduct Public Hearings and Forums
• Utilize Content Analysis and Trend Interpretation

Extension must establish priorities and not try
to Be All Things to All People
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Assess Your Programs to Demonstrate Outcomes

• Measure the impacts of assessed program needs
  to secure future support and to learn how to
  improve the program.