Case Study - Assessment Design

Client Need

A large bank was seeking to manage the front end of its leadership pipeline by utilising the assessment centre methodology to identify applicants suitable for being developed into branch managers from frontline staff. After several exploratory discussions, CompAssess was engaged to assist them in the delivery of this important project.

CompAssess Solution

CompAssess consultants worked with the client to finalise the competencies underpinning effective performance in a branch management role. From this a simple coverage grid was constructed that provided guidance as to what assessment exercises would be required to cover the competencies with validity. Existing assessment materials were reviewed and joint decisions made as to which assessment material to keep and which to retain or modify.

CompAssess followed the assessment design process detailed above to draft exercises designed to provide fair and realistic triggers for the desired behaviours. These went through a number of rounds of critiquing and review by our Design Review Team before being finalised. Piloting of the exercises demonstrated their ability to stimulate the appropriate behaviours as well as determining a high level of inter-rater reliability.

Following the pilot, the participant, administrator and assessor materials were finalised and proofed. Following the brief of the client, assessor materials were developed for the client to utilise for internal assessor training.

Outcome

The assessment designs have been successfully implemented to the expressed satisfaction of all stakeholders. Most importantly, the design extracted a strong spread of performance among candidates, greatly assisting the selection decision making process. All in all, client feedback suggests that the initiative has resulted in the strongest group of trainee branch managers yet identified from frontline staff.