Testing beyond the basics: new approaches
Have you ever wondered how much your employees really know about the business? Or perhaps how well they can perform in certain job tasks? Knowledge testing in organizations has become an essential tool to answer these questions and more. In our previous article, we introduced the concept of knowledge assessment in the format of employee assessments tests and discussed the importance of testing at the level of organizations. In this follow-up article, we will dive deeper into the topic and explore other types of knowledge testing that organizations can consider.
We are not the first ones to talk about the importance of testing; other well-known publications such as Forbes and Harvard Business Review have done so before us. Forbes discussed the significance of employee testing on various levels: firstly, as as means of identifying and developing potential leaders within the organization, secondly to create a talent pool that can help the company navigate market fluctuations, and thirdly to ?future-proof? employees by continually training them on emerging technologies, starting from their skill and knowledge gaps. But let?s see how an organization can effectively test employees for all these purposes and even more.
Employee knowledge testing: modern approaches
In our earlier article, we outlined various techniques that organizations can employ to test their employees, including skills tests, job knowledge tests, personality tests, behavioral tests, and performance appraisals. These methods of testing are effective and enable companies to identify their employees? strengths and weaknesses, as well as determine areas where training is required. However, there are also other ways to conduct knowledge assessment tests that organizations should consider. By implementing a variety of testing methods, organizations can gain a more comprehensive understanding of their employees? abilities and make informed decisions regarding employee development and training programs.
Gamified assessments
Employee training programs can fail to deliver a good return on investment and suffer from low retention ratesif they fail to engage employees, further leading to poor learning outcomes. That?s why gamification is a good asset for both delivering information and testing the understanding of it. Forbes discussed several approaches to gamification that can be used to test employees. These include awarding points to learners who pass certain quizzes, establishing levels of clearing defined learning paths, awarding badges or certificates to promoite competition among learners, and even creating leaderboards that encourage employees to actively pursue new skills and knowledge.
Continuous assessments
Traditionally, knowledge assessments are conducted periodically, usually once or twice a year. However, continuous assessments are becoming more popular in many organizations. In this type of testing, employees are evaluated on an ongoing basis, usually through short quizzes or assessments. Continuous testing has the benefit of providing a more accurate picture of an employee?s knowledge and skills, as the results reflect the employee?s current knowledge and not just their knowledge at a specific point in time.
The other way around: assessing the organization
Assessing the knowledge, skills, and proficiency levels of employees is crucial. However, as per a LinkedIn article, evaluating the organization can also be an effective approach to foster innovation. Among the 20 questions proposed by the test, employees are required to provide an honest answer and assign a score ranging from 1 to 5 points. Some of the questions include whether the vision and innovation strategy are communicated to employees, whether the company consistently collects ideas, whether mistakes can be made, and whether lessons are learned.
To wrap-it-up, knowledge assessment testing has become an essential tool for organizations to gauge their employees? abilities, identify areas for improvement, and develop effective training programs. While traditional methods such as skills tests and performance appraisals are effective, organizations can also consider gamified assessments and continuous assessments to increase engagement and accuracy. Furthermore, assessing the organization itself can also foster innovation and promote a culture of learning.
