The benefits of assessments

Although the broad process of organizational 'work' can be characterized in a range of different ways (and through the use of a number of simple representative models) we take the view that all organizations need to adopt a continual cycle whereby they plan what they should be doing, target their efforts appropriately, deliver or implement their plan and monitor or review the results that they achieve before re-planning again. The original author of this idea was Edward Deming who laid the foundations for the total quality initiatives across much of the business world. He characterized this cyclic journey with the words PLAN, DO, CHECK, ACT. We prefer to characterize this journey in similar ways but using labels that are more accurately descriptive of each phase of the journey. This is illustrated in the diagram below

Hence we would argue that any work effort (from small tasks to large-scale projects) would ideally follow this cycle, if it was to be successful). For example, this cycle would apply as much to designing and developing a new product or service as much as it would in carrying out an individual performance appraisal discussion.

When this simple model is applied to questionnaires and assessments, it becomes clear that they are extremely useful tools to help or assist at stage 1 (diagnostic), stage 2 (target) and stage 4 (review). Moreover, if well designed, easy to use and rich in their output information, assessments provide structured processes and frameworks in areas where there has traditionally been little to help in the past (leading managers and supervisors to either make up their own approach or to miss out these stages altogether). From consulting experience, the temptation to omit any diagnosis or targeting effort can be high and an enterprise can jump quickly into 'deliver' mode (with any activity being preferable to doing nothing). Equally, pressures of time often precludes any post audit effort or project review, when important lessons for the future can be learned.