An Assessment Center is based on a thorough analysis of actual job behavior translated into a series of simulated job-related scenarios where candidates for promotion are observed and graded by assessors who evaluate performance during the exercises. The value of Assessment Centers, borne out by years of research and countless exercises, is their PREDICTIVE ABILITY. That is, the ultimate success or failure of a candidate for promotion has a high probability of correlation with how well the candidate performed in the Assessment Center.
Another important value of an Assessment Center is that the promotional candidates participating in the process invariably feel that the process is fair, job related and equitable. This important aspect of a promotional process is often overlooked. Promotional candidates who feel good about the process are less likely to complain about their ranking and the process.
The Illinois Fire Chiefs Promotional Evaluation and Assessment Service was organized in 1975 to assist fire departments and fire protection districts in the selection of personnel for supervisory positions from the rank of Engineer through Fire Chief, utilizing the Assessment Center type methodology. Some of the common exercises available through the service include: Structured Oral Exercise; In-Basket Exercise; Leaderless Group Exercise; Problem Solving Group Exercise; Writing Exercise; Tactical Exercise; Employee Interview Simulation Exercise; Presentation Exercise and a Fact-Finding and Decision Making Exercise. Other options include using a private company, but typical costs compared to the Illinois Fire Chiefs are at least two to three times more costly. Or you could do it yourself, which is an option very few organizations opt for because of the extreme difficulty, time involved and the appearance to the promotional candidates that the process is not equitable.
The Illinois Fire Chiefs Assessment Center costs per candidate, for scores only, range from $345/candidate for one exercise to $730/Candidate for administering any five of the exercises, plus Assessor expenses. In addition to scores, the Promotional Evaluation and Assessment Service also offer, for $100/candidate, to meet with the Fire Chief and/or Fire Commissioners to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate in the process. The Promotional Evaluation and Assessment Service also offers, for between $110 and $200/candidate, plus Assessor expenses, (depending on the number of exercises), to meet with the candidates to discuss with them, one on one, the process and their demonstrated strengths and weaknesses.
We also offer general admission Assessment Center Workshop Trainings (check the IFCA web site for dates), plus we can conduct Workshop Trainings for individual fire departments that are conducting an Assessment Center, as long as every eligible candidate is allowed to attend the Workshop Training. The fee for the training is $250 for a two hour training, $500 for a four hour training and $1,000 for an eight hour training, plus Assessor expenses.
So is it worth the time, effort and cost? Most people agree that no cost, time or effort should be spared to select the right person for promotion since you are most likely stuck with your selection forever! However the bottom line is that cost considerations must be taken into account which is why the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association formed the Promotional Evaluation and Assessment Service to provide a reasonable cost alternative to promotional Assessment Centers.
For further information on the Illinois Fire Chiefs Assessment Center process contact DirectorTerry Mastandrea at 847-732-4709 or chiefterry@ameritech.net