Assessment and development centre toolkit

Make a case for setting up an assessment and development centre in your organisation. And design, develop and implement your own bespoke exercises using the superb tools contained in this resource.

You'll be able to:

· Determine the real business benefits versus costs of establishing a centre - and go on to convince your organisation of its worth
· Understand the rationale and mechanics of these centres - with simple, clear and jargon-free explanations
· Equip yourself with the knowledge to competently create your own resources

ContentsSECTION ONE: GETTING STARTED

1.The business case for assessment and development centres
A methodology for working out the cost-benefit of assessment and development centres in order to provide a compelling case for decision makers and to assist with evaluation.

2.Analysing the job/person/role specification
Approaches to analysing the job, job description or person specification as a critical start to the process of designing the centre.

3.Competency analysis and specification
Considerations about how to apply competency frameworks to inform the design of assessment and development centres.

SECTION TWO: TESTS AND EXERCISES

4.Psychometric tests - uses and dangers
When and how to use published psychometric tests.

5.Designing your own questionnaires
How to design your own questionnaire (if you really want to).

6.In-tray exercises
When to use and how to design standard in-tray exercise scenarios and marking sheets.

7.Written exercises
When to use and how to design written exercises, such as report-writing exercises.

8.Case studies
When to use and how to design case-study exercises.

9.Presentations
When to use and how to design and assess presentations, with or without visual aids.

10.Group exercises
When to use and how to design and assess/observe group exercises.

11.Focused discussions
When to use and how to design focused discussions or in-depth interviews on particular topics.

12.Role-play
When to use and how to design role-play exercises.

SECTION THREE: PREPARATION AND ADMINISTRATION

13.Assessor/observer training
The critical importance of training your assessors/observers in the exercises and rating methodology to ensure that the centres are valid and fair.

14.Scheduling and administering the centre
A review of the major scheduling and resource issues that have to be considered so that your centre is delivered smoothly and effectively, including preparation for centre personnel and candidates/participants.

SECTION FOUR: VALIDATION, EVALUATION AND GOOD PRACTICE ISSUES

15.Validating the centre and evaluating the process
How to validate the exercises and the centre as a whole to ensure that it meets the test of validity, consistency and fairness, and demonstrates value for money.

16.Good practice issues and resources
A range of good practice issues to be aware of, including the published codes of practice and the need for your own code/policy on the use of assessment and development centres; a recap on issues concerning Equal Opportunities, and advice on how to keep up to date on assessment and development centre issues in this electronic age.

258 pages, with 78 OK to copy pages