Management Audit
The challenge
Our customer, a leading German regional bank, wanted to conduct extensive diagnostic screening for its top management. In addition to strategic personnel considerations, the main focus was on development. The expert assessment of areas for potential and development would also serve to derive suitable measures for each executive's continued growth. To ensure the success of the project, the customer wanted a solution that involved a highly efficient process, international orientation, methods that fit its corporate culture, and maximum transparency.
Our solution
First, individual meetings were held with the bank executives to identify suitable criteria for the evaluation. Afterwards, the 65 candidates were invited to half-day individual audits, which were held in German and English. The audit consisted of various exercises tailored specifically to this target group: a self-presentation with a structured in-depth interview, a test exercise on the achievement motivation structure and a case study on one of two position-specific variations. The evaluation was completed with detailed feedback comparing one's self-perception and external perception as well as a cultural assessment of the candidate's own department or subsidiary.
Results
- Meaningful management portfolios, in part due to the comparison of individual appraisal results with the performance evaluation
- Comparative presentation of the assessed cultural aspects at the organizational level
- Detailed presentation and discussion of results during an executive retreat
- Target-oriented measures defined (development, transfer, promotion, dismissal)
- Everyone involved in the process was very satisfied
Outlook
Systematic follow-up meetings helped to transfer the findings from the appraisal to the reality of everyday work. For several candidates, participating in the audit meant taking a special step into the future. As management board of the bank, they now play an active role in shaping its destiny.