Assessment Centers Executive Summary

275 Words2 Pages
Article 3: Executive Summary * Title: Assessment Centers: Acceptable and Cost Effective Too * Author: Richard Steiner * Purpose/Objectives: To discuss to basic issues about Assessment centers; would this process be perceived as a valid assessment procedure? And would it be cost effective? * Methods: Evaluated management selection-development preferences, all participants were asked to complete detailed questionnaires. They were asked to compare the assessment center against boss appraisal, written tests, oral interviews, experience ratings, and oral tests. Deciding on cost effectiveness would depend on the timing of the organization; but the benefits will outweigh the costs. * Results: The first question, would this process be perceived as a valid assessment procedure? The results of the questionnaire clearly indicated that the assessment center was preferred to the other selection and development techniques. Would it be cost effective? Full scale implementation of the assessment center would be dependent on reducing the costs to a point where it becomes competitive with existing testing procedures, such as development and administration of written tests and convening of oral boards. An assessment center is a process built around two component parts: a common standardized series of exercises and simulations which approximate actual management functions, and trained assessors who observe performance and record observations on a predetermined format. The assessment center being discussed is focused in three major areas: management skills, decision making abilities, and personal relations. At the conclusion of the process, a report is prepared which can serve either as part of the selection mechanism or a guide for future developmental plans and actions. Assessment centers pro-vide valuable additional information that can be incorporated
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