75% of an organisation’s total expenditure is spent on people, making them the most expensive asset.
Making the right selection choice is therefore essential to the success of an organisation and the wellbeing of its staff. Effective talent measurement and occupational assessment can save organisations time and money while protecting the well-being of employees.
As psychometric testing and other objective assessment methods continue to grow in popularity, the absence of a recognised standard for occupational assessment services has become more apparent.
The British Standards Institution (BSI) has now responded to this observation with the launch of the first ever international standard to assure competency in recruitment decisions and enhance the potential “fit” of new employees.
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Developed in conjunction with influential committee members from organisations such as the British Psychological Society (Committee on Test Standards and Division of Occupational Psychology), SHL, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Association for Coaching, BS ISO 10667 – Assessment Service Delivery – will provide users of occupational assessment with a benchmark for the procurement and delivery of assessment services.
The standard will allow assessment businesses to demonstrate that best practice procedures are being followed; assure HR managers that the procedures they use (whether managed in-house or by an external assessment provider) will deliver the best outcomes and be fair and appropriate; as well as help ensure that staff involved in delivering assessments have the relevant skills and competences. Compliance with the standard will help ensure that organisations meet appropriate legal and ethical obligations regarding the selection and development of staff.
The standard which is delivered in two parts is a new concept. The first part will be of particular interest to those buying in services of assessment providers or running internal assessment programmes, the second is more relevant to the actual assessment providers. BS ISO 10667 suggests that best practice assessment delivery involves collaboration between parties by encouraging joint-working on the development of assessment specifications, how data might be used and the interpretation of results.
Professor Dave Bartram, Chief Psychologist at the talent measurement company, SHL, said: “Good measurement through assessment is the key to enhancing the acquisition and management of talent. Good talent measurement provides the ‘people intelligence’ managers need to deliver the business results.
“ISO 10667 is an important step in addressing issues of good practice in the assessment of people in the workplace. As a global provider of assessment services, we welcome the availability of a truly international standard that will help us in working with our customers to ensure they realise value from using our services.”
The approach of BS ISO 10667 was the subject of much debate at a recent conference in Chester when the Occupational Division of the British Psychological Society met to consider industry development and professional practice.
