Knowledge assessment: the indispensable professional aspect not to be overlooked

Knowledge assessment: an overview

Knowledge assessment, in the form of employee assessment tests, refers to a group of quizzes used to determine the skills, knowledge, abilities and personality of potential hires or existing employees. Why is that a necessity? Firstly, because the growth of an organization is directly impacted by its people. They are the backbone of every company, they are the ones who bring in the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to help the organization achieve its global objectives. They are the ones who develop new products and services, interact with customers, and increase efficiency. They can drive innovation by bringing new ideas, perspectives, and approaches to the organization. 

However, in order for employees to use their expertise and experience at full capacity, the organization must use knowledge assessment to be up-to-date to the skills and knowledge of every employee. The role of these tests is to help organizations identify the strengths and weaknesses of their workforce, and develop strategies for employee development and retention. Moreover, assessment tests can help employers to identify areas where employees need additional training or support, and to provide them with targeted development programs. This can lead to increased job satisfaction, employee engagement, and productivity, which are all key factors in the success of any organization. 

Furthermore, assessment tests can help organizations to identify high-potential employees who may be suitable for leadership or management positions. This can be beneficial for succession planning and can ensure that the organization has a pipeline of talented employees who are ready to take on new challenges and responsibilities. 

Now that we have established the importance of such knowledge assessment tests, let’s see what types of tests there are and how they can be used to maximize the development of your employees and of your company at the same time. 

Knowledge assessment types

The type of assessment test depends on the specific needs of an organization and the role that a specific employee plays in the company. Thus, there are many types of knowledge assessments, each designed to measure different aspects of an employee’s skills, knowledge, personality or behaviors. Here are some of the most common types of assessments used across organizations: 

1. Skills tests: These tests evaluate an employee’s specific skills related to their job, such as proficiency in a programming language or knowledge of a particular software, for example. According to an eLearning Industry article, it’s common to use a knowledge test method for a skill objective, highlighting the importance of previously setting a clear learning objective type. For example, if your objective is to test knowledge, you focus on facts, theories or other conceptual knowledge, while if your objective is to evaluate skills, you should focus on procedures, scenarios, job tasks. 
2. Job knowledge tests: These knowledge assessments measure an employee’s understanding of specific concepts or procedures related to their job. For example, let’s say a hospital is hiring a new nurse for their surgical department. As part of the selection process, the hospital may administer a job knowledge test to assess the candidate’s knowledge and proficiency in surgical nursing procedures and practices, asking questions related to the purpose of a surgical hand scrub or the procedure of administering anesthesia to a patient, for example. 
3. Personality tests: These tests evaluate an employee’s personality traits and characteristics, such as openness, conscientiousness, customer services skills. For example, in restaurant businesses, personality tests can focus on traits such as time management skills, which might include assessing an employee’s ability to prioritize tasks, and work efficiently under pressure at certain times of the day, such as lunch. 
4. Behavioral tests: These tests can assess an employee’s behavior in specific situations, such as how they handle conflict or work in a team. 
5. Performance appraisals: These assessments are conducted by managers or supervisors to evaluate an employee’s performance in their current job role. This can be based on an employee’s accomplishments, contributions, feedback from colleagues, managers or customers. 

Implementing a comprehensive knowledge assessment program

As aforementioned, administering knowledge assessment tests can enhance employee development and retention within an organization. Regular evaluation of the knowledge and skills possessed by the workforce enables employers to identify areas of strength and weakness, and subsequently facilitate targeted training programs to address the identified areas requiring improvement. However, you should keep in mind that the evaluation process has its own challenges and pitfalls, such as the risk of bias or the possibility of employees gaming the system to get higher scores. But do not worry, there are plenty of strategies for mitigating these challenges and making sure that knowledge assessments tests are administered in a consistent manner across all employees. 

The best way to start is by investing in an eLearning platform that can provide organizations with an effective tool to overcome the challenges associated with a biased employee assessment process. Such platforms offer a standardized approach to knowledge and skills assessments that can minimize the impact of individual biases that may affect the evaluation process. Moreover, eLearning platforms provide an efficient way to deliver consistent and comprehensive training to all employees, which can help to level the playing field in terms of skills and knowledge acquisition. With the use of an eLearning platform, employers can also monitor the progress and performance of their workforce, which can help to identify areas where additional support or training may be required.