The needs assessment task is one of the most important efforts because it establishes the foundation for systems analyses and eventual implementation. Our approach relies on our extensive understanding of public safety operations and collecting needs from agencies across the country.

FE’s process includes a combination of individual interviews and focus groups with the
following objectives:

• Identify and document current and future user needs
• Solicit users’ perceptions of current system performance including gaps that do not meet their needs
• Educate users as to what is practical and affordable
• Begin to build consensus and eventual “ownership” in the recommendations

The goal of this task is the collection, compilation and analysis of key information obtained from a broad spectrum of management and user agencies.