This document discusses the benefits of using objective testing data in human resources management. It argues that testing can help make better hiring, leadership development, succession planning, and employee development decisions by providing an objective assessment of people's knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics. The document provides several scenarios of how businesses could benefit from testing, such as assessing a potential successor's fit for a leadership role, evaluating employees' readiness for new responsibilities, improving the hiring process, and developing leadership skills. It emphasizes using valid, legal testing methods and consulting experts to ensure proper use of tests.

1. Testing...
Why Bother?
Presented by:
William (Chip)Valutis, PhD

2. Why do we need objective data?
Human beings possess an inherent lack
of objectivity in analyzing people.

3. Why do we need objective data?
To make good hiring decisions
To effectively develop managers and leaders
To correctly determine the strengths and
weaknesses of our workers
To plan succession and internal selection
To be professional in our Human Resources
Management

4. What is Testing?
What do we
mean by
“testing”?

5. When we speak of
testing, we refer to the
use of tests and surveys to
get a good snapshot of an
individual’s or group’s
characteristics and
qualities.
What do we mean by “testing”?

6. What can be
measured through
testing?

7. In general, we can reliably measure
relevant aspects of people’s...
Knowledge
Skills
Abilities
Aptitudes
Values
Personal
Characteristics

8. Problem-solving abilities
General knowledge base and learning potential
Critical thinking skills
Sales aptitude
Selling style
Management potential
Specific examples

9. Specific examples (cont’d.)
Leadership style
Leadership effectiveness
Customer service orientation
Industrial skills and aptitudes
Personality characteristics
Specific work behavior and characteristics

10. When would business
organizations benefit
from the use of testing?
Some common scenarios:

11. Scenario #1:
Founder (age 65) finally passes
the baton to Junior (age 40).
Guess what?
Junior isn’t “ready” — he
is not up to the job, or
doesn’t have what it takes.

12. Solution:
Successor Development
Plan the right experiences early
Assess knowledge, skills, abilities and personality
characteristics (KSAPCs)
Evaluate job fit
Determine course of action
On-the-job training
Formal education
Use of mentors
Potential search for interim or different successor

13. Scenario #2:
Executives and
managers have great
talent, but . . .
They’re lousy leaders and managers.

14. Test them to determine their KSAPCs,
especially leadership style and talent
Consider using a 360° Feedback
assessment to measure perceptions of
leader effectiveness
Train and develop leadership skills based
on results
Solution:
Assess & develop leadership skills

15. Scenario #3:
Successful business is
stagnating, in part
because loyal, long-term
employees may not be
prepared to “take it to
the next level.”

16. Solution:
Determine next level: Where are you going?
Determine how jobs will change.
Assess employees.
Compare KSAPCs to “job of
the future.”
Determine training and
development needs,
person/job match, and
possible reorganization.

17. Scenario #4:
You’re having trouble hiring
good help.
You’ve dabbled in some
testing but it hasn’t made
your problems go away.

18. Engage in a job description process.
Specify what qualities are needed
in successful applicants.
Seek valid ways to assess those
qualities.
Use multiple methods to help evaluate
candidate/job match (tests are one tool).
If unsure about legal parameters and test usage,
seek consultation.
Solution:
Assess Applicants During Selection Process

19. Scenario #5:
You’d like to use testing,
but you are wary of legal
issues and don’t know
what level of performance
to use as a standard.

20. Solution:
Explore your testing options.
Find out how you might ensure valid use of tests. For
example:
Use of profile studies to validate tests
Informed use of well-validated tests
Understand basics of discrimination
Keep records of impact
Use tests appropriately

21. Check out the rest of this series here:
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