NCJ Number
51724
Journal
Canadian Police College Journal Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (1978) Pages: 283-290
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE PURPOSE OF THE ASSESSMENT CENTER IS DESCRIBED AND THE PROCEDURES USED IN THE JOB ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY AND WEIGH THE ABILITIES, SKILLS, AND PERSONAL QUALITIES OF THE STAFF SERGEANT ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE ASSESSMENT CENTER IS DESIGNED TO PLACE CANDIDATES FOR VARIOUS POLICE MANAGEMENT POSITIONS INTO SIMULATED SITUATIONS OF THE KIND THAT THEY MIGHT FACE IN THE TARGET POSITION, WITH THE AIM OF PROVIDING THEM WITH IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PROMOTIONAL DECISIONMAKING. THE SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTER ARE THE RESULT OF CAREFUL JOB ANALYSES OF THE TARGET POSITIONS IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY AND WEIGH THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF THE ABILITIES, SKILLS, AND PERSONAL QUALITIES (DIMENSIONS) REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF THE DUTIES REQUIRED BY A PARTICULAR JOB. THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES THE JOB ANALYSIS PROCEDURE ACCOMPLISHED FOR THE STAFF SERGEANT POSITION IN THE VANCOUVER POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE JOB ANALYSIS CONSISTED OF FOUR PHASES: INFORMATION GATHERING, ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION GATHERED, DIMENSION EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE, AND DIMENSION WEIGHING QUESTIONNAIRE. IN GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT STAFF SERGEANT DUTIES, INCUMBENT STAFF SERGEANTS WERE ASKED TO PREPARE A LIST OF THEIR JOB-RELATED DUTIES, AND INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH 12 INCUMBENT STAFF SERGEANTS, TWO INSPECTORS, ONE STAFF INSPECTOR, AND ONE SUPERINTENDENT. INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED ALSO FROM CRITICAL INCIDENT WORKSHOPS, WHICH WERE ATTENDED BY 10 INSPECTORS FOR THE PURPOSE OF IDENTIFYING OBSERVED CRITICAL INCIDENTS THAT CLEARLY MANIFESTED THE EFFECTIVE OR INEFFECTIVE DUTY PERFORMANCE OF STAFF SERGEANTS. THE SECOND PHASE OF THE JOB ANALYSIS CONSISTED OF ANALYZING THE INFORMATION GATHERED IN PHASE I TO IDENTIFY AND DEFINE A TENTATIVE LIST OF DIMENSIONS ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESSFUL JOB PERFORMANCES. PHASE III INVOLVED PREPARING, DISTRIBUTING, COLLECTING, AND ANALYZING THE RESULTS OF A DIMENSION EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE SENT TO ALL INCUMBENT STAFF SERGEANTS. IT ENTAILED RATING THE TENTATIVE JOB DIMENSIONS ACCORDING TO THEIR IMPORTANCE. THE FOURTH PHASE EMPLOYED A DIMENSION WEIGHING QUESTIONNAIRE THAT REQUIRED A SAMPLE OF STAFF SERGEANTS AND INSPECTORS TO RATE THE 'ESSENTIAL' DIMENSIONS OF JOB PERFORMANCE DERIVED FROM PHASE III. THE RESULTING JOB DIMENSIONS ARE LISTED AND DESCRIBED ACCORDING TO THEIR ORDER OF PRIORITY. RELATED READINGS ARE IDENTIFIED. (RCB)