Using Human performance Improvement in the Developmental Disability Field

 

Historically in the developmental disability and human service field, training is often used to correct issues that arise among the workforce. Recent studies show that performance issues may not be due to skills and knowledge of the worker, rather problems that are developed at the organizational level.

Human Performance Improvement (HPI), is an effective way of closing performance gaps in the developmental disability field. Donald Tosi, an expert in human performance technology, explains through his work that human performance technology has four principles:

1. Focusing on results
2. Taking a systems view
3. Creating value for the individual or organization
4. Establishing partnerships with clients and other professionals.

There are six steps in the human performance improvement process:

• Business Analysis. Before you can begin any training goal, you must be able to identify the business goals of your organization including the mission statement, goals and values.
• Performance Analysis. The next step is identifying both desired and current performance levels. For instance, in reviewing trends in abuse, what is the current expectation in reducing the number and what is the gaps in the performance that you expect to close?
• Cause Analysis. What might cause the performance gap? Reefing back to the abuse example, it is at this phase that you will determine if the gap is from lack of knowledge, short staff, etc.
• Intervention. During this phase, you select an intervention that will close the performance gap. Examples of interventions may include, additional training, job aids, job rotation and coaching.
• Evaluation. After an intervention is introduced, it is important to evaluate and measure the effectiveness in closing the performance gap.
• Change Management. During the last phase, your role will be to help the organization adapt to the new changes by providing ongoing feedback and monitor the results.

By implementing the six steps in the human performance improvement process, you will more likely be able to accurately determine the performance gap.