Relationship of assessment-center performance to management progress of women

Abstract

Data concerning current management level at the end of 1973 were obtained for 4,846 women assessed between 1963 and 1971 at an assessment center for identifying managerial talent. Performance at the assessment center was strongly related to subsequent promotions into management and advancement within management. The distribution of the women's assessment ratings was very similar to a corresponding distribution for men assessed using the same techniques. The assessed dimensions (e.g., organizing and planning, decision making, and leadership) relating most strongly to subsequent management level were the same for men and women. Assessment-center methods appear valid for the selection of women managers and do not result in the promotion of proportionately fewer women assessees. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)