A talent development (TD) professional receives a request to create a product certification.

Before collecting and analyzing data, the TD professional must understand the client's business need. A request for a product certification describes a proposed solution, but it does not explain the organizational problem the certification is intended to solve.

Clarifying the business need establishes the purpose of the analysis. Relevant questions might address expected performance, target audiences, customer or regulatory requirements, current deficiencies, business risks, and what successful certification should accomplish. These answers determine what data should be collected and how the resulting information should be interpreted.

Choosing training methods occurs later, after requirements are established. Providing feedback on the analysis and presenting an instructional design also occur after the problem, evidence, and proposed solution have been developed.

Beginning with business needs prevents the TD professional from carrying out technically sound analysis that answers the wrong question. It also allows the practitioner to determine whether certification is actually the appropriate intervention or whether another learning or performance solution would better address the underlying requirement. This business-first approach is fundamental to effective consulting and performance improvement.

Study Guide Topics: Performance Improvement; consulting; business needs analysis; needs assessment; solution selection.

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