The application of IT tools in assessing employees’ personality and motivation

Abstract

PURPOSE: The paper aims to explore the applicability of information technologies in assessing employee personalities and motivations, outline the evolution trajectories of relevant IT tools, and report experiences with their application methodologies.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The paper presents the findings of research on the applicability of IT support tools in determining employees’ personality and motivation. The research methods included primarily Development and Assessment Center A&DC, and literature studies. The following techniques were used, interview, participant observation, role play, self-reflection sheet, feedback, and cause-and-effect analysis. The following psychometric tools were also employed: Hogan Systems, Test Intentio Consensio, Thalento.

FINDINGS: The proliferating applications of psychometrics are bilaterally tied to progress in related research. Evolution trajectories of considered tools lead toward the embracement of BI, AI, IT ontologies. A&DC methodology should be developed in parallel.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The metaplan technique utilized by the authors compares business practice (what is it like?), as demonstrated by case studies, against a research model (what should it be like?). The resulting recommendations are given.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The paper seeks to make a contribution to the methodology foundations for the application of information technology in support of employee personality and motivation assessment, and to indicate paths for the evolution of relevant tools. Identification of user requirements is followed up by a set of practical recommendations, based on descriptors and selection criteria, concerning the use of such tools in organizational settings, with a special focus on the needs of HR knowledge workers.