Selecting excellence among the best- A review on Assessment center concept


“A management assessment center is a series of tests, interviews, simulations, and exercises designed to predict how well a management candidate will perform in a specific role. The assessment center puts the prospective manager through a series of drills and situations and grades their response” (Maccarthy, 2021). Simply it is a two to three day simulation in which 10 to 12 candidates and the observation of experts appraise a candidate's leadership potential. 

The assessment center will use a variety of exercises to evaluate the candidate or candidates (Maccarthy, 2021). Some factors the tests may measure include:

  • Competencies
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Planning
  • Communication
  • Problem-solving
  • Job knowledge
  • Personality
  • Leadership
  • Situational judgment
  • Intelligence (intellectual or emotional)

Typical simulated tasks include

The in basket

Here the candidates get reports, memos, notes of incoming phone calls, E-mails, and other materials collected in the actual or computerized in-basket of the simulated job he or she is about to start. The candidate must take appropriate action on each item. Trained evaluators review the candidate's efforts. 

Leaderless group discussion

Here the trainers are assigned for a leaderless group and given a question to discuss with the group and ask to arrive at a group decision. Then each member's interpersonal skills, acceptance by the group, leadership ability and individual influence on the group are evaluated. 

Management games

Here the participants solve a realistic problem as a member of simulated companies competing in a marketplace. 

Individual oral presentation 

Here trainers' communication skills and persuasiveness is evaluated. 

Testing

Here the personality, mental ability, interests and achievements are tested. 

The interview

Most probably the candidate's interest, past performances and motivation are assessed. (Spychalski et al., 1997)


When using the management assessment center concept for selecting the candidates, supervisor recommendations usually play a big role. 

Assessment centers are expensive to develop, take longer than conventional tests require managers acting as assessors and often require psychologists. But almost all the studies conclude these management assessment centers as an asset because if administered properly and with purpose, it can provide a clear return on investment.  

Additional readings  

WHY DO ASSESSMENT CENTERS WORK? THE PUZZLE OF ASSESSMENT CENTER VALIDITY

Guidelines and Ethical Considerations for Assessment Center Operations

References

Mccarthy, D. (2021). What Is a Management Assessment Center? The balance career. [Online] Available at: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/what-is-a-management-or-leadership-assessment-center-2275962#:~:text=A%20management%20assessment%20center%20is,situations%20and%20grades%20their%20response. [Accessed on: 24th August, 2022].

Spychalski, A. C. Quinones, M. A. Gaugler, B. B. and Pohley, K. (1997). A survey of assessment center practices in organizations in the United States. Personnel Psychology, 50(1), pp.71-90.

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