Artificial intelligence – a new frontier in assessment centre technology
With ever-present client concerns regarding the cost of the assessment centre process, the associated issues with inter-rater reliability, central tendency in ratings, declining validities and the modernisation of work, Evalex embarked on applying the emergent technologies of artificial intelligence (AI), cognitive computing and gamification to the design of assessment centre simulations. As we already had a strong track record in systems development it did not require the development of an entirely new capability, simply a shift in focus.
While most in our industry are striving to build assessment tools into seamless delivery systems, Evalex is actually doing it! And, in addition to aggregating tools into a seamless distribution system, we are also redesigning the black boxes of the instruments that assess the main construct of cognitive abilities, thought leadership, emotional maturity and personality. Evalex is, in fact, reinventing the tools that form part of the entire assessment value chain.
To date, Evalex has developed five AI-driven solutions, two avatar- or bot-driven assessment centre role-plays, an assessment centre/psychometric interpretive engine, a digital assessment feedback portal and a talent classification system.
All five of these solutions are embedded in our Evalex talent assessment system, which seamlessly manages the overall assessment value chain and facilitates candidates through the assessment with hardly any human intervention.
Pieter Bronkhorst at the 41st International Congress on Assessment Center Methods
Our founder, Dr Pieter Bronkhorst, shared insights regarding our work in this arena at the recent International Congress on Assessment Center Methods, which took place at the De Vere Beaumont Estate in Windsor in the United Kingdom. Within the conference theme of “Hi-Tech or Hi-Touch: The Future of Assessment Centres”, Pieter presented on “How artificial intelligence is transforming assessment centre simulations: Does an AI-driven simulation produce the same predictive validities as traditional methods?”
Pieter spoke about the impact of technology on the talent assessment landscape and the origins and impact of AI in the assessment centre arena. He also shared information on the AI work done by Evalex in the development of two simulations as a part of our cutting-edge online Evalex Business Simulations. Furthermore, he shared insights into our interpretive engine, participant digital development report and our talent classification engine, which are all driven by AI.
We have identified the following benefits of an AI-focused assessment approach to our clients:
- The talent assessment system captures data in real time and leads to a massive reduction in the internal assessment process cost (fewer staff are required)
- The sophisticated algorithm-based interpretative engine puts the knowledge of an experienced psychologist within the grasp of a line manager or less experienced psychologist at the press of a button
- The AI-driven instruments provide an engaging experience for the candidate and a refreshing alternative to traditional assessments
- The AI-driven simulations improve reliability, consistency and fairness. Unlike a human assessor, it is not prone to bias, fatigue, lapses in concentration and central tendency
- The AI-driven simulations provide for equality in the assessment process as the system cannot identify race, gender or age
- The talent classification solution provides approximately 35 classifications derived from extensive research over many years to pinpoint the talent strategy for each leader in a business based on an algorithmic combination of leadership competence, EQ, thought leadership, cognitive abilities, personality, interests, experience, performance and job level
- The digital feedback portal enables a quick rollout of the feedback process following the assessment. This is achieved by giving candidates a link to access their assessment results themselves, giving them an exciting experience to explore their strengths and development areas, ideal roles suited to their unique make-up, and the ideal strategies in the business where they would excel
Our cutting-edge approach to assessments will provide significant benefit to our clients in the recruitment, development and talent management life cycle and enable stronger people performance predictive analytics and – ultimately – improved business results.
For more information, feel free to contact us on [email protected].