ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we take a closer look at assessment centers developed exclusively for employee development. These centers, termed developmental assessment centers, or DACs, are unique. Whereas selection and diagnostic centers are designed to assess competence in order to make a judgment or decision about an individual (i.e., selection/promotion decisions, the preparation of an individualized development plan), a DAC serves the dual purpose of both assessment and development (Iles & Forster, 1994; Joiner, 2002; Kudisch, Ladd, & Dobbins, 1997). That is, learning and improvement are expected to take place over the course of the center. We have devoted an entire chapter to the DAC method for multiple reasons.
