Validating the Hogan Assessments and EQ-i-project manager profile (pilot study)

Challenge

Our client wanted to conduct a validation study of the Hogan Assessments and EQ-i used to assess their project managers. JvR Psychometrics had the task of validating the use of these assessments, and in the process, identifyingassessment scales to be included in the project manager profile for benchmarking successful project managers.

Solution/study

JvR Psychometrics gathered all the Hogan Assessment Series andthe EQ-i assessment data of27 project managers. The Hogan Assessment series included the Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI) that measures the personality characteristics of individuals; the Hogan Development Survey (HDS) that measures the possible derailers for managers and employees;and the Motives, Values, Preferences, Inventory (MVPI) that measures the preferences and drivers for employees. The Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i)is used to assess the emotional coping resources of individuals. Assessment scores for project managers on these assessments were then compared with their supervisor performance rating scores.

Results

The results indicated the validity of the HPI, HDS, MVPI,and EQ-i, as most of the scales were correlated with the performance rating scores. In most cases,these correlations were moderate to strong. The table below shows the scales that were most predominantly correlated with performance, which can be included in the project manager profile and used to benchmark project managers.

Correlations between scales and performance ratings

From these findings, successful project managers are influential, leader-like, analytical, detail conscious, rule-abiding, and sensitive to the feelings of others. They are also unlikely to take unnecessary (uncalculated) risks. Further research on a much larger sample and based on more objective performance data will ensure that an accurate project manager profile is created. However, these results are valuable because they act as a guiding tool for the further validation studies of assessments used for selection and development of project managers, and aid the development and fine tuning the project manager profile.