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Why use an assessment or development centre?

The following are typical reasons to consider using Assessment or Development Centres:

• Comprehensive evaluation
• Valid; better predictor
• Less adverse impact
• Training effect for raters
• Training effect for candidates
• Multiple uses
• More information for decision-making
• Participants like it (despite nerves)!

However, keep in mind the following disadvantages of assessment and development centres:

• Expensive
• Time-consuming
• Multiple rooms required
• Many assessors/observers required
• Training requirement for assessors/observers
• Exercise design and validation takes time and competence and is costly
• Update required when job changes
• Feedback must be handled well otherwise may result in motivation issues in development centres
• Process must be seen as fair in order to avoid image problems for the organisation