What are assessment and development centres?

Whilst the term assessment and development centres might imply a specific place the reality is different. The term assessment and development centres represent a process or more accurately a number of processes. Whilst assessment centres are usually associated with external recruitment there are other valid none recruitment aims as is described below. It is because assessment of internal personnel can utilise processes that have developmental synergy and because assessment centres generate invaluable information many organisation use the time candidates spend in assessment centres to go beyond assessment and into developmental processes. Whereas assessment processes will reveal much the observation of candidates in developmental mode will reveal much more. Hence the generation of assessment and development centres.

These assessment and development centres processes are brought together usually by an experienced HRD consultant to serve the need of a specific organisational aim. The aims of assessment centres and/or development centres can vary as is described on the next page.