Chapter 7

Needs and Needs Assessment

Perhaps the most over-worked word in the English language is “need.” It is usually confused with “want” or “really, really want.”

In planning, as we have noted earlier, the distinction between ends and means is critical; first define and justify where you want to be, and then select the means to get there. Vital to Mega Thinking and Planning is defining “need” as a gap in results, not a gap in means or resources. It really is important, although the distinction might seem trivial at first.