If you were going to recommend HPI books or workshops to someone new to the field, what would be your top 5 books and/or workshops?

As far as books....
1. Managing the White Space by Rummler and Brache. Deals with the importance of a systems approach better than any other source in the performance field.

2. Human Competence by Gilbert. The best explanation of the basic foundation principles of HPI work, the need to focus on accomplishments rather than behavior, the performance analysis failings that too many organizations are still guilty of.

3. Zap the Gaps by the Robinsons and Blanchard. Yeah, it's HPI-lite but it's the book that I give to executive clients when they're trying to get a grasp on what performance consulting is. Blanchard is a credible name to those who don't know HPI, it's a quick read and avoids all the usual pitfalls we make in trying to explain performance improvement.

4. Transitioning from Training to Performance by Fuller and Farrington. Still the best book out there on moving from being a trainer to doing performance work.

5. The Performance Consulting Fieldbook by Hale. Tool time--lots of job aids. In my opinion, not so helpful to a novice but if you have a model, basic set of skills and a sense of the work it's a very useful book.

Honorable mention:
--Really Serious Guide to Performance by Rummler. Very practical and detailed on analysis.
--HPI Basics (by me). I think this is the best practical intro to performance consulting around.
--Performance Consulting by Dana and Jim Robinson. A good overall intro to the field that covers a lot of bases.
--HPI Essentials edited by George Piskurich. A good intro on performance with chapters by 10 different contributors.
--Linking Learning and Performance by Toni Hodges-DeToncq. While not using an HPI methodology, I think this is the most practical book I've seen on evaluation.

As for courses or workshops...
1. The ASTD Analyzing Human Performance workshop which provides an introduction to the Performance DNA Desktop software. I think all of the 5 courses in the series are good but the AHP workshop is the one that deals with the performance analysis side which is (to me anyway) the critical set of competencies around performance consulting.
2. The Platinum Performance Group program on job aids.
3. Anything by Paul Elliott.
ISPI does some outstanding workshops and institutes but in my experience, the content and caliber vary with the facilitator.

As Joe Willmore stated, Gilbert is a great book for providing a foundational understanding. I would always suggest that for people who want to see where the HPI/HPT field began. In addition to his other recommendations, I would add these titles:

Analyzing Performance Problems – Robert Mager
To me, this is an extremely straightforward and entertaining look into how to identify the root causes of performance issues using HPI/HPT principles. It includes a rather involved, but extremely useful, flowchart which makes his process very visual. (Note, this can also be found as part of the New Mager Six Pack - [URL=http://store.astd.org/Default.aspx?tabid=44&action=INVProductDetails&args=7606 ]The New Mager Six Pack[/URL])

Training Ain't Performance- Harold D. Stolovitch and Erica J. Keeps
This book is great for those new to the HPI/HPT model. It is a great launching point for training professionals who want to see how their industry is evolving, and it provides lots of great takeaways. The style of the book is extremely interactive making it a very easy read.

Happy reading!
-Ed

Performance Consulting - Robinson and Robinson
Contains step by step how-to, including interview guides, examples and templates

My addition to the must-reads: Flawless Consulting by Peter Block