Gut Is Out, Simulation Is In
by Dave Heine, Ph.D.
It’s a hectic day in the life of an executive. First comes a national television news interview to explain a drop in earnings. Next is a meeting with the head of a recent acquisition. After that, she addresses the board on her long-term vision for the company. All in a day’s work? Actually, it’s all a simulation to help gauge how well she will perform if hired for the position. Increasingly, organizations are turning to the use of simulation based assessments to help make critical hiring and promotion decisions.
Apples to Apples
Chief executives recognize that when it comes to evaluating candidates for key positions, it is difficult to make accurate, “apples to apples” comparisons, given all the potential variables involved. And the process of evaluating candidates is rife with subjectivity and potential for error. When both internal and external candidates are involved, bias, hunch and gut instincts become a significant factor.
Research from Personnel Decisions International (PDI) shows that in up to 60 percent of cases, leaders have divergent views about someone’s qualifications. Read more