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Center of Intercultural Competence

www.cicb.net www.cacb.ch

The Prognostic Assessment

How far the development of personality and cultural awareness

can be predicted

Thomas Baumer

Presentation and Workshop SIETAR Congress, Tallinn, 20 September 2013

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Prognostic Assessment

How is it possible, that …

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Prognostic Assessment

… in 1 day … …we attain…

1. to catch the essential aspects of the personality (strenghts and weaknesses) of a human being,

2. to measure and anticipate social and cultural awareness,

3. to describe the existing as well as (if so) hidden abilities und addictions / interests,

4. to establish a quantifiable comparison with a job specification or requirement profile,

5. to outline requirements and basic conditions for the further development,

6. to define a time frame until the requirements will be achieved,

7. to ensure sustainability;

8. and this all can be monitored and verified?

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Goals for today:

• Presentation – what is a Prognostic Assessment and how is it performed?

– what is possible, what not?

• Workshop, discussion – discuss about and exchange personal experiences.

– discuss about the values of objective (clearly measurable; e. g. psychometric tests) versus subjective (+/− measurable; e. g. projective tests, graphology) information.

– your topics; Q & A.

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Team

Center of Intercultural Competence Ltd.

CICB Center of Intercultural Competence Ltd.

CACB Center for Assessment and Coaching Assessment, Coaching, Outplacement

CICB Center of Intercultural Competence Intercultural Competence (Trainings, Presentations, Research)

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Eonomist (HWV/FH) 1982 – 1985: McDonald’s Germany (Store- und regional Manager) 1986 – 1999: Swissair (lastly Division Manager / Deputy General Manager, Swissair Training Center) 2000: Foundation CICB Center of Intercultural Competence Assessments, Coaching, Outplacements 2010: Foundation CICB Center of Intercultural Competence Ltd. CICB Center of Intercultural Competence CACB Center for Assessment and Coaching ▪ Books (in German): - Handbook Intercultural Competence (2 volumes) (2002 / 2004) - Prognostic Assessment. Anticipate abilities and personal development (2013)

▪ Research, Analysis, Trainings, Presentations (e. g. „Speakers Excellence‟) ▪ over 500 Assessments, over 150 Coachings and Outplacements

Thomas Baumer

Center for Assessment and Coaching

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Assessment Definition and Goals

1) entire and correct analysis of existing and hidden abilities and interests as well as the expected personality development

2) comparison with profile of requirements (if needed)

3) conditions and general framework for enhancements

4) time horizon of personal development until given requirement or generally (time frame max. 3 – 5 years)

5) constraints and limits

6) ensuring sustainability

Prognostic Assessment

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Assessment relating to the personality: analysis of strenghts and weaknesses (Development Center; Coaching, Outplacement); → SW (strenghts / weaknesses)

relating to the personality and specific task / function: in addition: verification of abilities (chances / risks) (Assessment Center; Staffing, Coaching) → SWOT (strenghts / weaknesses / opportunities / threats)

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Process

Preparation (initial situation, information, preliminary talk)

Performance − structured biographical interview − case studies, performance tests − cognitive and personality tests

psychometric and projektive methods (e. g. 16PF, N29, Wechsler, d2, Wartegg)

− behavior appraisal (continuous)

− interactive exercises (e. g. role plays, presentation, ambiguous situations)

Analysis and Expertise / Report

Feedback

Prognostic Assessment

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Steps in evaluation and analysis 1. group data set into superior and inferior predictors

2. allocate into confirming, completing or contradictory items

3. critical questioning of objective and subjective information (based on knowledge, experience, extrapolation and intuition); all steps have to be transparent

4. appraisal of results and behavior under unequal conditions

5. incorporating influence of motivation, interests and addictions

6. firming subjective impressions with quantifiable reasons and reference values

7. assembling consistent findings onto quantifiable reasons and comparable values at similar constellations

8. generating of currently usable abilities through test results and further information; individual factors are weighted according importance regarding requirements or other defined values

9. constantly reviewing consistence, clearness, traceability and comprehensibility of all aspects

Prognostic Assessment

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Assessment Report

Graphical Abstract

Personal development and goals:

− Reduce tensions and fear of loosing control, by confidence on multisided own abilities.

− Conscious balancing of energy-management and perception (rational, senses, emotional and intuitive); mental preparing of delicate situations and ensuring a calm, structured and methodic approach.

− Enhance consistence and tangibility in communication. Intentional steering of possibly polarizing situations.

Suggested time frame: 1 – 2 years. Target agreements, professional coaching / supervision and feedback.

100 = requirement

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Cultural dimensions (Geert Hofstede):

1. Power Distance Index (PDI): behavior appraisal, personality tests

2. Individualism vs. Collectivism (IDV): behavior appraisal, role play

3. Masculinity vs. Femininity (MAS): written exercises, role play

4. Uncertainity Avolidance Index (UAI): personality tests, behavior appraisal

5. Long-Term-Orientation (LTO): behavior appraisal, role play

Cultural Groups (Richard D. Lewis):

1. Linear active: behavior appraisal (especially stress resistance); self-perception

2. Multi-active: behavior appraisal (esp. within stress resistance); self-perception

3. Reactive: behavior appraisal (especially within stress resistance); self-perception

Cultural Awareness

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important Cultural Assessment Focal Points determined within test results, self-perception and behavior appraisal during exercises and role plays

1. Ambiguity Tolerance (ability to neutrally perceive ambiguities resp. equivocal or contradictory meanings)

2. Openness to Contacts (social orientation and competence)

3. Flexibility in Behavior (coping with unfamiliar situations)

4. Emotional Stability

5. Motivation to Perform (achievement oriented)

6. Empathy

7. Metacommunicative Competence (ability to steer by using different practical communication tools to solve problems in human interaction)

8. Polycentrism (in the meaning of Non-Ethnocentrism)

Cultural Awareness

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Requiremens for a professional statement:

1. selection of tests and procedures

2. evaluation and examination of „objective‟ information

3. evidence to prognostic aspects

4. identification and reasons of contradictions

5. requirements concerning tests and procedures

6. evaluation and examination of subjective information

7. graphological analyses and projective tests

8. overall analysis, identification and quantification of potentials

Prognostic Assessment

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Constraints and limits:

1. Qualification (formation, giftedness and experience) of the participating assessors

2. Selection of the applied tests, methods and exercises

3. Process and sequences of the assessment

4. Complexity of candidate’s personality

5. Honesty of the assessors concerning ambiguities and uncertainities

Prognostic Assessment

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Critical questions / prejudices → Answers

a) Assessments have a bad reputation and are not often used. → use appropriate tests, correct/flexible process, contradictions/unexpected explained

b) They have just a sub-function within the selection process. → first impression not sufficient; specific tasks; development, coaching, outplacement

c) The term Prognostic Assessment is unknown, the procedure unclear. → difficult predictions, context vs. individual info, high complexity → simple statement

d) Every assessment should be prognostic. → not always necessary, requirements not always fullfilled

e) Objectivity, Reliability and Validity (criterion validity)? → sometimes not congruent with individual test validity; theory + intuition + experience

f) How rises a good prediction? → see „Requirements for a professional statement‟

g) Contribution of (individual) tests regarding a prediction? → unequal; depending on requirement profile and complexity of candidates personality

h) How are abilities and potentials differenciated and measured? → abilities always usable; potentials conditionally usable, visible indirect or by exclusion

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Unleash potentials:

Specific coaching (intensive workshop or individual coaching)

Basis: Analysis of the Prognostic Assessment

1. Defining goals, intermediate steps and mesurement categories

2. Coordination of goals with ordering customer; confidence base

3. Meetings: a) actual questions or problems; b) discussion about objectives; c) tasks until next meeting

4. Supervising and ensuring progress and aims (tests, behavior appraisal and „on the job‟)

5. Ensuring sustainability after completion (contact with Coachee and ordering customer)

Potential Development

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Prognostic Assessment and subsequent Coaching:

4 determining factors: 1. Potential of development (defined in Report of Prognostic Assessment) 2. Developed and usable abilities at time of Assessment 3. Requirements defined prior to Assessment,

if applicable with adaptation as definition of aims prior to Coaching 4. Developed and usable abilities at completion of Coaching

Visible and measurable results are: 1. Absolute (quantifiable) values in the respective criteria 2. Difference in usable abilities prior to and after Coaching 3. Difference in usable abilities compared with profile of requirements

(each before and after Coaching) 4. Difference between usable abilities and development potential

(each before and after Coaching) 5. Remaining, currently not yet usable development potential

after Coaching, including statement and outlook

Resulting Parameters

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Attributes of a professional Assessment:

1. Verifiable; no empty promises

2. Transparent setting; if required anonymised Report

3. Consideration of special requirements and questions

4. Structure where necessary, Flexibility where possible

5. Feedback with candidate

6. Concrete base for decision and explicit statement in Report

7. Preliminary talk and feedback with ordering customer

8. Quality assurance and sustainability: long-term relationship with customer

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Discussion, Workshops, Q & A:

Discuss about and exchange personal experiences

Discuss about the values of objective (measurable; e. g. psychometric tests) versus subjective (+/− measurable; e. g. projective tests, graphology) information

Your topics, Q & A

Publication (in German language):

Thomas Baumer Prognostic Assessment Anticipating abilities and personal development ISBN 978-3-908244-94-3 19.80 € CICB Center of Intercultural Competence Ltd. CACB Center for Assessment and Coaching Fribourg and Zurich (Switzerland) baumer@cicb.net www.cicb.net

www.cacb.ch

Thank you !

Center of Intercultural Competence

Thomas Baumer www.cicb.net www.cacb.ch