Why does our organization need assessments?

In twenty-five years, PPI has created and processed thousands of surveys, tests, and assessments. We’ve seen organizations make lots of positive changes, select individuals with high potential, and let go of those who will never fit with the assignments at hand.

In our opinion, the benefits of assessments distill to these five points:

1. Comprehensive.   Tests and assessments provide a comprehensive view that is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve without them, especially in so short a time. They can measure all four of the qualities that go into effective job performance, plus the organizational setting that influences individual performance:     Cognitive ability,  motivation and energy, learned skills and behaviors, natural abilities and tendencies as expressed through personality and organizational culture.
2. Systematic.   All of these characteristics can be described in an expert, fair, and systematic way when the appropriate tests and assessments are selected. Furthermore, assessments related to motivation and skills can be repeated at intervals to detect changes, creating an apples-to-apples basis of comparison.
3. Fast.   Trial, error and the passage of time are great teachers. Unfortunately, they are very expensive teachers in a business setting. Assessments and 360 feedback give individuals and their coaches information that could take them years to understand through simple trial and error and the passage of time. Ditto for organizational surveys and the information they yield.
4. Confidential.   Assessments can offer sensitive information in a private, low-risk way. People can understand their strengths and capitalize on them. At the same time, they can identify and avoid potential blind spots and over-dependence on strengths. They can set development priorities for themselves without public scrutiny.
5. Conducive to Improving Group Processes.   Feedback helps individuals see themselves as others see them. It is critical to grasp one’s overall impact on others—the sooner, the better. When many individuals are receiving feedback, group effectiveness is enhanced as individuals learn how to fine tune their participation in the effort. Organizational surveys also enhance organizational realism by shedding light on bad or outdated assumptions and removing barriers to high individual performance.