The role of training needs assessment in developing effective training programmes: Evidence from Kigamboni municipal council, Tanzania

Emanuel Lain Lameck

doi:10.51867/AQSSR.3.4.65

Auteurs-es

Emanuel Lain Lameck Tanzania Institute of Accountancy Auteur-e https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2664-3394

DOI :

https://doi.org/10.51867/AQSSR.3.4.65

Mots-clés :

Local Government Authorities, Kigamboni Municipal Council, Training Needs Assessment (TNA), Training Programs

Résumé

Effective training programmes depend on identifying employees’ competency gaps and aligning training investments with organizational priorities. This study examined employees’ and managers’ perceptions of the role of Training Needs Assessment (TNA) in developing effective training programmes at Kigamboni Municipal Council, Tanzania. A mixed-methods case-study design combined quantitative questionnaire data with qualitative interview evidence. From a target population of 2,314 employees, 341 participants were selected through purposive and stratified random sampling. Of the questionnaires distributed, 321 were completed, representing a 94.1% response rate. Twenty participants drawn from the questionnaire respondents also participated in interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative evidence was analysed thematically. The findings showed that 81.9% of respondents perceived TNA as having a high or very high influence on training-programme development. The most frequently mentioned benefits were improving performance and productivity (34%), aligning training with company objectives (29%), identifying skills gaps (21%), increasing training-content relevance (11%) and promoting cost-effective utilization of resources (5%). The results are consistent with Human Capital Theory, suggesting that systematic identification of needs can lead to better-targeted training investment, although organizational constraints can influence execution. The study concludes that TNA is a significant planning tool and recommends its incorporation into annual training planning and post-training evaluation. The study concludes that TNA is a vital planning tool and recommends that Kigamboni Municipal Council conduct needs assessments annually, align its training budget and programmes with identified competency gaps, and undertake post-training evaluations to assess training outcomes and guide future training decisions.

Références

Alzahmi, A. and Alshamsi, S., (2024). The Influence of Applying Human Resource Training Needs Analysis on Employee's Performance. Journal of Human Resource and Leadership, 9(1), pp.1-18. https://doi.org/10.47604/jhrl.2302.

Awu, E., Darius, B., & Chimele, M. P. (2025). Human Capital Theory: Viewing Employees as Organizational Asset. International Journal of Academic Management Science Research, 9, 370-375.

Bunduki, Z. I., & Rutenge, M. M. (2024). Exploring the practice of training needs assessment towards improving quality public service delivery: A case of Tanzania Port Authority. African Journal of Empirical Research, 5(4), 816-825. https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.5.4.68

Coe, R., Waring, N., HEdges, L. and Ashley, L., (2021). Research methods and methodologies in education. 3rd ed. [online] Sage Publication. Available at: .

Kazi, K.H., (2020a). Effectiveness of employee training needs assessment in the public organizations in Tanzania: A case of Kinondoni Municipal. [online] Open University of Tanzania. Available at: <https://repository.out.ac.tz/2967/1/DISSERTATION%20-%20KASSIM%20H.%20KAZI%20-%20FINAL.pdf>.

Khaykin, M.M., Lapinskas, A.A. and Kochergina, O.A., (2020). The Development of the Theory of Human Capital in the Historical Dimension. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Economics, Management and Technologies 2020 (ICEMT 2020). [online] International Conference on Economics, Management and Technologies 2020 (ICEMT 2020). Yalta, Crimea, Russia: Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/aebmr.k.200509.090.

Kura, B. K., & Kaur, D. (2021). Effect of training needs assessment on employee performance: A review perspective. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 5(6).

Letangule, S.L. and Onyango, M.A., (2020). Relationship Between Training Needs Assessment and Performance of Non-Teaching Employees at Management Level at Kenya School of Government. [online] 5(9). Available at: <https://www.imjst.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMJSTP29120327.pdf>.

Litsova, I., (2022). The role of the training needs analysis in the training process and its relationship wih the performance of the employees. Knowledge - International Journal, 55(5), pp.995-1000. https://doi.org/10.35120/kij5505995i.

Mahmud, K.T., Saira Wahid, I. and Arif, I., (2019). Impact of training needs assessment on the performance of employees: Evidence from Bangladesh. Cogent Social Sciences, 5(1), p.1705627. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2019.1705627.

Marginson, S., (2019). Limitations of human capital theory. Studies in Higher Education, 44(2), pp.287-301. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2017.1359823.

Mbogela, A., Kira, A. and Ngumuo, S., (2023). Internal Audit Attributes on the Performance of Projects in Local Government Authorities in Tanzania. Huria: Journal of the Open University of Tanzania., v28i2.1148. https://doi.org/10.61538/huria.

https://doi.org/10.61538/huria.v28i2.1148

McGoldrick, B., & Tobey, D. D. (2016). Needs assessment basics (2nd ed.). Association for Talent Development. https://www.td.org/product/book--needs-assessment-basics-2nd-edition/111622.

Mojtahed, R. and Nunes, M., (2014). Equipping the Constructivist Researcher: The Combined use of Semi-Structured Interviews and Decision-Making maps. The Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, 12(2), p.87.

Nor, A.I., (2025). The role of training needs analysis in training effectiveness in public sector organizations. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 9(3), p.2026149. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2026149.

Ocheni, S., Atakpa, M. and Nwankwo, B.C., (2014). Analysis of Methods for Identification of Training Needs in the Nigerian Local Government System. International Journal of Democratic and Development Studies, [online] 2(1). Available at: <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344877913_Analysis_of_Methods_for_Identification_of_Training_Needs_in_the_Nigerian_Local_Government_System_Analysis_of_Methods_for_Identification_of_Training_Needs_in_the_Nigerian_Local_Government_System/link/5f963bada6fdccfd7b7f8282/download?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIn19>.

Osagie, U.N., (2025). The Critical Role of Training Needs Assessment TNA in Elevating Employee Performance and Organizational Alignment. Euro Afro Studies International Journal, 7(5), pp.1-12. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.17058678.

Robert, N. and Mori, N., (2025). Effects of training needs assessment in enhancing employees' skills and firm performance. Journal of Work-Applied Management, 17(1), pp.82-98. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWAM-05-2023-0046.

Rubakula, G., (2013). Public Sector Reform in Tanzania: Implementation of the National Five-Year Development Plan Towards Social Service Provision. The international journal of African historical studies., 9. https://doi.org/10.56279/tajoso.v9i2.139.

Sevgi, M., (2024). Interview as a data collection technique: An ethnographic evaluation. International Journal Of Eurasia Social Sciences, p.57. https://doi.org/10.35826/ijoess.4498.

Shilingi, V., Kinemo, S.M. and Kwayu, M., (2018). Strategic Issues Affecting Training and Development in Tanzania's Public Sector: Evidence from Selected Local Government Authorities. Macrothink Institute, Inc., 8(3), pp.297-313. https://doi.org/10.5296/JPAG.V8I3.13638.

Teherani, A., Martimianakis, T., Stenfors-Hayes, T., Wadhwa, A. and Varpio, L., (2015). Choosing a Qualitative Research Approach. Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 7(4), pp.669-670. https://doi.org/10.4300/JGME-D-15-00414.1.

Yamane, T., (1967). Statistics: An Introductory Analysis. 2nd ed. New York: Harper and Row.

Young, G. and Kenny, M.C., (2023). Focusing the APA Ethics Code to Include Development: Applications to Abuse. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 16(1), pp.109-122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-022-00484-z.