Using a simulation model involving a fictitious toy manufacturing company this course gives you an in-depth understanding of the process of structuring and conducting a needs assessment of workplace essential skills. The course starts with an examination of essential skills and their importance as foundational skills upon which job-specific skills can be built. Next you will learn a way to determine whether a training needs assessment is needed in a particular workplace. You will then learn the roles of the project team and the consultant and the qualities the consultant needs in order to perform the tasks in a professional manner.In addition you will learn ways to structure question protocols appropriate for focus group and individual interview data collection. The course gives you procedures to follow when conducting focus groups and interviews. You will learn processes for initial data collection as well as procedures for transcribing collating and analyzing data.If you are interested in enhancing your skills as a consultant this course may well prepare you for new opportunities. Not only will this course give you a new understanding of the essential skills training needs assessment process it will provide you with the models and tools you need to perform training needs assessments. If you are a consultant or if you plan to move into the consulting field you owe it to yourself to add essential skills training needs assessment to your catalogue of skills by taking this course.