360 Degree Assessment Program

Situation:

Certainly the utility had a full complement of HR programs such as Training and Development, Performance Management, Career Development, Succession Planning, and more, but the programs had not always worked well or in the same direction. This program provided an Integrated Performance Management and Employee Development approach with core and role competencies as the centerpiece.

Solution:

Mike smiled bravely when we asked him how he was holding up. A very good-natured, popular team player, he had dutifully served as an assessor for 12 others. Given the extreme care and comprehensive comments he had provided for each, it felt like he had put in an extra week completing the assessments. And yet, no one had heard him complain even once about this task…

There definitely had been some pain, but the accomplishments made it worth it. This power generation division of a large utility had, using focus software:

1. Created a core competency model with critical competencies for all employees
2. Identified Role Competencies for almost 150 different jobs titles
3. Communicated extensively with all management employees on the purposes and steps in the assessment process, and trained them to make accurate and fair ratings
4. Completed 360-degree assessments on 500 managers using assessment instruments customized to their positions
5. Created an on-line training resource that we called the "Development Resource Guide."
6. Implemented a Training Return-On-Investment (ROI) forecasting system to help spend the training budget most wisely
7. Based on the 360-degree assessments, had completed training needs analysis reports for about 15 different work groups and for the Division Overall.

Not only has the program been well-received internally, but it has also garnered a great deal of external recognition. It has been written up in articles and book chapters and been presented at numerous professional conferences.

In conclusion, the intent was to create an Integrated Performance Management and Employee Development system that would drive employee performance and development.  focus software provided the platform that enables that to happen.