Human Performance improvement

Human performance technology (HPT), also known as human performance improvement (HPI), or human performance assessment (HPA), is a field of study related to process improvement methodologies such as lean management, Six Sigma, lean Six Sigma, organization development, motivation, instructional technology, human factors, learning, performance support systems, knowledge management, and training. It is focused on improving performance at the societal, organizational, process, and individual performer levels.

HPT “uses a wide range of interventions that are drawn from many other disciplines, including total quality management, process improvement, behavioral psychology, instructional systems design, organizational development, and human resources management” (ISPI, 2007). It stresses a rigorous analysis of requirements at the societal, organizational process and individual levels as appropriate to identify the causes for performance gaps, provide appropriate interventions to improve and sustain performance, and finally to evaluate the results against the requirements.

Standards of Practice

• Focus on Results
• Take a Systems View
• Add Value
• Utilize Partnerships
• Systematic Assessment of Need or Opportunity
• Systematic Cause Analysis
• Systematic Design
• Systematic Development
• Systematic Implementation
• Systematic Evaluation

HPI for Business

The HPI process helps you to articulate your business goals, link these goals to human performance, diagnose the current state of performance in the organization, find the root causes for performance deficiencies, implement solutions, and evaluate their results.

Being business focused means having a clear understanding of what your organization’s strategic priorities are and using those priorities to guide your management decisions.

Gap Analysis Aims at Improving Performance

The process of analyzing performance always begins with business analysis, which allows us to identify the gaps in performance. HPI takes into account the influences that affect your business, the tasks that form the daily workload in your business or departments, the processes that are needed to deliver the outcomes desired, and the final goal that your business seeks to satisfy. The difference between the beginning point (current performance level) and the endpoint (desired performance level) is the performance gap.

• Hobbies: Things you enjoy doing that other people don’t place much monetary value on
• Time wasters: Things you don’t enjoy that others don’t value
• Dues: Things you don’t enjoy that others do value
• Sweet spot: Things you enjoy that others value

HPI Begins with Goals

A business-focused approach to applying HPI to your bottom line begins by identifying what the key business goals are for the client or organization. Your business goals could include goals for:

• The entire organization
• Department within your organization
• A Specific team or unit
• A function.

    In a large and complex organization, there are usually a variety of business goals at different levels of the organization.