Training and development are not enough : Testing must also meet the challenges of the twenty‐first century

Challenges the testing industry to change its methods and approaches aggressively to meet industry′s needs as we move towards the twenty‐first century. While the training and development field has addressed the critical issues of empowerment, quality, teamwork, etc., the testing industry remains basically in the Dark Ages, continuing to rely on archaic paper and pencil tests which have little to do with such concepts as teamwork, etc. Addresses testing as the first step leading to a competent workforce. Discusses trends which will have an impact on testing, e.g. movement towards team‐oriented work environments. Then discusses the impact of these trends in creating challenges for the testing industry – tests will be needed which can be used not only for selecting people, but also for providing diagnostic developmental information (given labour shortages, it will be critical to point out to those people hired as well as the organization, how these people can improve their skills so as to increase the likelihood of their being successful on‐the‐job performers). Contrasts innovative testing approaches, e.g. video‐based testing, with more conventional methods in terms of meeting the challenges.