Lucas, an HR manager, has been assigned the task of creating a training and development program for his firm's employees. According to the ADDIE training process model, what is the first step that Lucas should take?

a. conduct a needs analysis

b. train the targeted group of employees

c. design the program content

d. assess the program's successes or failures

Answer: a. conduct a needs analysis

Explanation: According to the ADDIE training process model, conducting a needs analysis is the first step that Lucas should take. Addie is an acronym for the five stages of an instructional development process: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. It gives a streamlined, focused approach that provides feedback for continuous improvement. It is traditionally used by instructional designers and training developers as part of their online, offline and blended training sessions.

Conducting a needs analysis involves analyzing the current situation in terms of past training, knowledge gaps, what worked and what did not work etc. by asking a variety of questions and to also understand what the goal of the training is. This to a great extent influences the amount of decisions that would be made later in the process.