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Behavioral Assessments
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USE OF
ASSESSMENTS IN TODAY’S BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
In
today's competitive corporate environment, the proper use of assessments
as part of the selection process can make the difference between hiring
the best or becoming noncompetitive.
The
types of instruments that employers need to be concerned about the most
are those that assess ability, aptitudes, skills and/or knowledge. These
instruments are the most likely to have adverse impact.
On the
other hand, Instruments that assess personality traits, behavior or
values are least likely to have adverse impact.
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In all
cases, the most crucial determination for any company is HOW the testing
and assessment process is implemented and managed. The U.S. Department of
Labor, Employment and Training Administration, has produced a highly
informative guide for the workplace entitled: Testing and Assessment: An
Employer's Guide to Good Practices. In Chapter 9, “A Review – Principles of
Assessment” the authors write:
“Employers
can effectively use personnel assessment instruments to measure
job-relevant skills and capabilities of applicants and employees. These
tools can help to identify and select better workers and can help improve
the quality of an organization's overall performance. To use these tools
properly, employers must be aware of the inherent limitations of any
assessment procedure, as well as the legal issues involved in assessment.”
THE DISC
LANGUAGE and TTI'S ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS
DISC is
the universal language of observable human behavior. People, by “how they
act,” have similar characteristics. By learning these characteristics, we
can increase effective interpersonal communications and, therefore,
increase our understanding and acceptance of each other.
DISC is
NOT a measurement of intelligence, skills, experience, education or
training. DISC is the language of “how we act” and exclusively measures
observable behavior and related emotions. People with similar styles tend
to exhibit specific types of behavior common to that style.
TTI's
Style Analysis (tm) instrument used to produce TTI's DISC assessments is derived
from the work of Dr. William Moulton Marston, born in Cliftondale,
Massachusetts, in 1893. Marston's publicly recognized contribution was his
invention of the lie detector. His work as a consulting psychologist led to
his publication of a book titled, “The Emotions of Normal People” in 1928.
In this book he described the four-quadrant behavioral theory that TTI uses
today within the Style Analysis instrument. Dr. Marston believed that
people tend to learn a self-concept, which is basically in accordance with
one of four behavioral factors (TTI's Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and
Compliance). Using Marston's theory, it is possible to apply the powers of
scientific observation to behavior. Thus, we can be OBJECTIVE and
DESCRIPTIVE, rather than subjective and judgmental, in our observations of
how people go about doing their work and living their lives.
There are
dozens of companies today who sell behavioral models, based on Marston's
work, as a basis for objectively describing behavior. TTI's Style Analysis
instrument enables employers to identify “patterns of behavior” in such a
way as to make practical application of the Marston Theory.
TTI's
Style Analysis instrument has been compared against other behavioral
assessments in the marketplace and its Construct Validity has been endorsed
through independent research studies. Its Face Validity (representing
perceived accuracy of the reports by respondents) has been documented at an
overall average of 88.49%. Numerous detailed validity studies are available
through TTI's professional distributors.
The Style
Analysis instrument was developed in the late 1960's and has never been
challenged in court. It is widely used by business and government including
several federal agencies in the United States. Marston-based instruments
similar to the Style Analysis have been administered to over 30 million
people worldwide and have earned the respect of many professionals based on
accuracy and validity.
Professionally
certified TTI distributors assist their clients in the proper application
of DISC assessments, leading to improved working relationships and enhanced
talent management throughout the international business community. TAB of
the Delaware Valley is proud to offer TTI’s tools and the expertise to work
with them.
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