Reviews the organizational elements model of Kaufman and English, which uses internal factors alone as the basis for planning, and argues for reversing its order of consideration to achieve more useful results; i.e., to start with outcomes (societal requirements) and then move back through outputs, products, processes, and inputs. (Author/JD)

Suggests that trainers take innovative approaches to training clients who work in high-risk jobs such as the military and recommmends that external needs assessment, front end analysis, and task analysis be used to establish training goals and objectives. Nine references are listed. (MER)

Explains and differentiates among several types of needs assessment, recommends one type, the external needs assessment, and presents the steps for implementing this and other types of needs assessments. (Author/CHC)