TRAINING NEEDS: A PROPOSAL FOR A STRATEGIC EVALUATION IN THE CONTEXT OF JUNIOR BRAZILIAN ENTERPRISES

ABSTRACT The analysis of the literature points to be necessary to carry out empirical research based on the propositions and theoretical models of training needs assessment (TNA). There are no reports of training needs in the context of Junior Enterprises (JEs), organizations that contribute to the professional training of students in higher education. The research objective was to analyze the training needs of junior Brazilian entrepreneurs and identify the challenges and changes faced by JEs that can generate future demands for training. Two studies were carried out. Study I identified the training needs of a sample of junior entrepreneurs and was carried out in four steps: 1. design a TNA questionnaire of 43 items associated with scales of 11 points for domain and importance, 2. semantic validation, 3. use in a sample of 447 junior entrepreneurs from all over the country, and 4. analysis of data to identify priority training needs. Study II identified the challenges and changes experienced by the JEs that can generate future training needs for junior entrepreneurs and it involved the following steps: 1. design of semi-structured interview script, 2. individual interviews with a sample of 21 professionals and professors, 3. collective interviews with 34 junior entrepreneurs; and 4. analysis of data for categorization and description of challenges and changes. The findings of Study I indicate that the priority training needs refer to strategic JE management capacities and personal time management; and those of lower priority refer to effective communication and the ability to establish cooperative relationships. The results of Study II describe diverse challenges and changes, better specified by the sample of professionals and professors, and that can generate future training needs. It discusses the possibility to promote strategically developed training actions, involving the improvement of the activities and projects of the junior entrepreneurs, and the offering of top quality of products and services. This research contributes to the advancement of an integrated view between diagnostic and prognosis analyses of training needs, although within limited precision.