First Things Fast: A Handbook for Performance Analysis

By Allison Rossett

Book Overview

An Essential Knowledge Resource THE WORLD OF LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE has changed significantly since the first edition of First Things Fast was published more than a decade ago. This thoroughly revised and updated second edition of the best-selling classic recognizes a world chock-full of technology, economic strains, and opportunities. How do learning and performance professionals plan in this shifting context? How do they take advantage of new human and Internet-based resources? How do they bring their recommendations forward and add more value, no matter where they work? These questions are addressed throughout this new edition. This important resource is a practical guide that is filled with job aids, design templates, and examples offering step-by-step guidance to the basics of performance analysis. This new edition includes: New questions and templates that reflect the shift of learning and support from the classroom to the workplace, and the blends that provide learning and support in both environments Fresh approaches for using wikis, blogs, and online surveys to gather information Innovative ideas for tapping into the power of social networking and the possibilities presented for analysts Information on the critical link between analysis and evaluation and new guidelines for both activities A wealth of new illustrative case examples Insightful commentaries from successful leaders in the field who explain how they use analysis to advance individual and organizational strategy "Allison Rossett combines thought leadership for the profession with practical guidance. This book, the second edition of a classic in the field, is filled with proven practices and ready-to-use tools making this a resource you'll use frequently." DANA GAINES ROBINSON, COAUTHOR, PERFORMANCE CONSULTING AND STRATEGIC BUSINESS PARTNER "What I appreciate about this book is that it is a straightforward, practical guide to planning, and it embraces new technology and the convergence of learning and work." NANCY J. LEWIS, VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF LEARNING OFFICER, ITT CORPORATION

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0787988480
• ISBN13: 9780787988487
• Release Date: June 2009
• Publisher: Pfeiffer
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.0" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Must Have Resource

This book is a must have resource on your shelf. It's advice is timeless, examples practical, and the book is easy to implement. It is a go to book whenever I need a refresher. It also helps IDs and PCs get out of analysis paralysis and into the business of identifying performance gaps and determining causes and appropriate solutions/interventions.

Guess who's coming to dinner

This book serves as the first course at a performance analysis dinner-it whets the appetite and entices the reader to look further and deeper. It provides the reader with tasty morsels of information without weighing the reader down in the heavier technicalities of performance analysis. First Things Fast is a quick and easy reference for the professional trainer and one that I will keep on hand for future use. It addresses the situation as it is-the way things are-and provides concrete examples and solutions for those involved with the process. Because of the quick and easy reading that characterizes the book, I would recommend this book to those who are seeking a basic understanding of performance analysis without wanting to invest a great deal of time. I would also recommend it to those who want a quick reference for use in their performance analysis work (the templates are an effective starting point for the line of questioning which needs to occur). First Things Fast has the potential to be an extremely useful tool for those individuals who are in the position to decide what needs to be done and why.

An illuminating, practical guide for performance consulting

Rossett makes a very useful distinction in this book between performance analysis and training needs analysis. She recommends an action-oriented consulting approach that ensures the real problems and potential solutions are identified before selecting training as an intervention. Her approach is practical and recognizes the time and resource constraints that learning consultants, managers, and their companies operate within. I have ordered copies for all of my staff!

Great guide to quick human performance analysis

This book is a great help for anyone who is asked to analyze a performance problem. It provides a series of checklists and job aids to help someone figure out what's going on and how to fix it. It considers lots of problems and teaches you how to decide if the employee needs instruction, motivation or a changed environment. I really enjoyed this very practical and easy to read handbook; it avoids all the theory and jargon and puts the emphasis on analyzing human performance problems in a quick, efficient manner.