Re: Data selection and people selection by consultants

Keith Cowan (cowan@pci.on.ca)
Tue, 17 Jan 1995 07:00:39 -0500 (EST)

> Has anyone figured out how some people have selected the same data
> from observable data as other people have? I wonder if a management
> consultant could go into an organization and figure out which people
> have the same selection structure as the management consultant. Then
> the MC could "network smarter" than just choosing anyone to aid in
> changing the organization.
> Andrew Moreno amoreno@cyberspace.org amoreno@unixg.ubc.ca

There are techniques to do this. In more extensive engagements such
as my current one, I use The Pathfinder, an exhaustive psychological
test, which the people self-administer. From the results (there are
98 traits of the individual, and 24 interest areas), I develop a
composite of the organization of CORE COMPETENCIES that are essentially
shared values. I can also develop a comparison between any individual
and me, enabling me to bridge the gaps individually and collectively.

Naturally this is a very long topic to cover in this short space. Like
any diagnostic tool, it helps but is not the "final answer". I view it
as a way of building the roadmap without the usual pitfalls of the
mental models.

-- 
Keith Cowan       Phone: (416)565-6253           FAX: (905)858-7131
Toronto        Internet: cowan@pci.on.ca  Compuserve: 72212,51