IN NEW YORK CITY ASSESSMENT CENTER PROGRAM HELPS TO TEST MANAGERIAL COMPETENCE

• NCJ Number: 16150
• Journal: Police Chief Volume: 41 Issue: 12 Dated: (DECEMBER 1974) Pages: 52-53,74
• Author(s): P F D'ARCY
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PRESENTS THE GOALS AND PROGRAM OF A CENTER THAT ASSESSES PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS, MOTIVATION, ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGEMENT ABILITY, AND EMOTIONAL MAKEUP OF PERSONS BEING CONSIDERED FOR POLICE MANAGEMENT POSITIONS.

Abstract

CHIEF INSPECTORS WERE TRAINED TO BE THE OBSERVER CADRE OF TWO PILOT ASSESSMENT CENTER PROGRAMS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE NEW YORK DEPARTMENT. TWELVE SENIOR GRADE OFFICERS A RANK OR TWO LOWER THAN THE OBSERVERS WERE SELECTED AS PARTICIPANTS. THEY PLAYED VARIOUS ROLES IN SIMULATIONS THAT TAPPED ALL THE SKILLS REQUIRED OF THE MANAGEMENT POSITIONS FOR WHICH THEY WERE BEING CONSIDERED. THE OBSERVERS WATCHED THEIR REACTIONS, QUESTIONED THEM ABOUT THEIR ATTITUDES, AND GENERALLY OBSERVED HOW EACH MAN REACTED AND RESPONDED TO THE VARIOUS SITUATIONS. STAFF PSYCHOLOGISTS DESIGNED FORMS WHICH ENABLED THE CHIEF INSPECTORS TO RECORD AND REPORT THEIR REACTIONS IN A UNIFORM MANNER. THESE FORMS BECAME THE BASIS FOR DISCUSSION AND COMPARISON OF PARTICIPANTS AT PANEL SESSIONS CONDUCTED AFTER THE EXERCISES. EACH MAN WAS EVALUATED IN TERMS OF STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, AND AREAS WHERE THE FINDINGS WERE MIXED. PARTICIPANTS WERE RATED IN TERMS OF LONG-RANGE POTENTIAL, SUGGESTED JOB PLACEMENT, AND DEVELOPMENTAL RECOMMENDATIONS.