Development Centre

The following Development Centre was run for eight delegates who were assessed by four observers.

The organisation needed to create a culture that encouraged creativity and innovation. The delegates were selected as they were in roles that could influence the new culture. A programme of work was carried out to identify key behaviours that are desirable for the new culture. These are:

• Accessing Broad Stimuli
• Communication
• Courage
• Influential
• Influential Communication
• Lateral Thinking
• Non Judgmental
• Open Minded
• Progressive
• Progressive Thinking
• Resilience
• Supportive

The Development Company UK Limited was engaged to design a Development Centre that would show whether or not each delegate demonstrated the key behaviours.

The tests were designed and the Development Centre was scheduled to run over two days. The Development Company sourced a suitable venue via Corporate Venue

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The observers arrived on the first day with the afternoon dedicated to Observer Training.

The Observer Training is designed to ensure participants:

• Understand their role as observers in the Development Centre process
• Are familiar with the documentation, logistics and timetable for the Development Centre
• Have a clear understanding of how to record assessment data in the observation documents
• Recognise and explore the behaviours identified for the role
• Understand the range and nature of the assessment tasks being used in the Development Centre process

The delegates for the Development Centre arrived on the second morning and were subjected to a series of exercises to test the behaviours. The exercises included timed tasks, coaching and working in teams. The objectives were to:

• Assess each participant’s ability against the defined behaviours
• Identify each participant’s specific development needs
• Enable each participant to receive in-depth, constructive feedback on their performance
• Ensure that the creative and innovative aspirations of the organisation are being supported by the managers within the department
• Be able to support each participant as they develop themselves and their role

The day was very intensive and concluded with a surprise exercise to develop an entertainment sketch to be performed after the evening meal.

At the end of the Development Centre the observers fed back their scores and observations. As a result of the Development Centre training needs for certain individuals were identified. One delegate was promoted immediately after the Development Centre.