Training Needs Analysis: A Case Study of Loco Pilots

Indian Railway is one of the most challenged organizations among all public sectors organizations in the
INDIA. The Indian Railway therefore considers that the Loco Pilots should have the ability and the
confident to cope with critical situations. Given today’s business climate and the exponential growth in
technology with its effect on the economy and society at large, the need for training is more
pronounced than ever.

Training and development is becoming ever more an important method that equips organizations with
the flexibility, adaptability and durability required for survival with the new emerging organizational
reality where change, competition, workforce demographic changes and business upheavals are
eminent.

Training is an important activity within an organization which improves employees’ performance and
provides them the skills and knowledge required to do the job in a professional manner. Conducting a
training needs analysis is one of the most important steps in training development. This first step in
training process focuses on the process of deciding who and what should be trained. A training needs
analysis is primarily conducted to determine where training is needed, what needs to be taught, and
who needs to be trained (Goldstein 1993).

Training needs analysis models

 Organisational Analysis (O): The original purpose of organisational analysis as described by

McGehee and Thayer (1961) was to provide information about where and when training was
needed in an organization.
 Task Analysis (T): A task analysis identifies the nature of the tasks to be performed on the job
and the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed to perform these tasks
 Person Analysis (P): Person analysis focuses on identifying who should be trained and what
training is needed by individual

The Loco Pilot uses the observation, interview and questionnaire assessment method to find out about
various areas of improvement in employees. The training need analysis of Loco Pilot of Indian Railways
was made using three techniques which are considered one of the most representative techniques of
training need analysis. Following table shows all the points covered under each tool:

Attributes
Methods
Sensory/ Psycho- Cognitive Learning/ Personality/
Perceptual motor/ Knowledge/ Motivation
Physical Skill Communication
Observation Far Vision Multi-limb Deductive Knowledge of Rules, Cooperating,
coordination, Reasoning, Oral Comprehension, Conscientious,
Stamina Time Oral Expression, Punctual, Careful
 Sharing, Written
Observation, Comprehension,
Attention, Written Expression,
Memory Mechanical
Comprehension
Interview Auditory Multi-limb Deductive Oral Expression, Careful, Compliance,
Discrimination Coordination Reasoning, Knowledge of Rules, Cooperating,
, Stamina Time Written Expression, Communication Skill,
Sharing, Conscientious
Memory,
Attention,
Observation
Training Arm-Hand Memory, Computer, Safety Stress Management,
Need Steadiness, Time Consciousness, Communication,
Analysis Stamina Sharing, Technical Knowledge Coordination, Self
Questionnair Selective Esteem
e Attention,
Reaction
Time,
Concentratio
n

The work or India railway’s driver is considered as extremely stressful. It s working in an environment
over which wrecks their schedules, disrupts their home life, and makes social activities and regular
breaks very hard to plan.