Assessment
As we discussed in the previous chapter, standardized tests and assessment inventories are often used to provide normative (typical, expected) data comparison of an incoming candidate or employee for other purposes. Assessment is an excellent tool in the workplace and, for our purposes, can help us level the playing field when it comes to generational differences. Just as a personality assessment ignores the color of one’s skin or gender, it also ignores age and helps us relate across all our diversities by looking at personality differences versus more surface differences. Assessment is a demographic equalizer.
Assessments are used inside organizations for a variety of purposes, including
• selection;
• pre-promotion; and
• learning and development programs.