The MLE© is a computer-based leadership assessment
application designed for the assessment and development of executives
and managers at mid and upper levels of management. The MLE©
can also be used to evaluate the career potential of managerial
candidates to succeed in positions at higher levels in the organization.
The MLE© is also useful in identifying leadership
training and development needs
The MLE©
is the product of extensive leadership research in complex organizations.
Six cognitive skills found related to effective leadership performance
in higher level managerial jobs were identified. These skills
were found to be required for creative problem solving by high-level
leaders dealing with novel and complex situations.
Paper and pencil
measures of such skills have limited flexibility, do not present
realistic ways of responding, and are costly with respect to
both scoring time and the personnel requirements to administer
them. Also, such measures are limited in the kinds and the variety
of responses appropriate in high-level strategic decision-making
and problem solving. In certain settings, where the cost and
limited resources makes the use of assessment centers impractical,
the MLE© provides another option. The MLE©
can be used in conjunction with assessment centers and other
methods of managerial assessment, but used alone provide a comprehensive
set of measures for executive selection, assessment, development,
and promotion.
Given the need for
individual administration to executives in higher-level positions,
computer based administration is particularly appropriate due
to its flexibility and adaptive features. The MLE©
provides these advantages. Software provided can be installed
on any personal computer and can be self-administered at
the examinee's convenience. The total administration time is
under two hours.
In the MLE©, each skill is operationalized in terms of different
scenarios describing events in organizations that require use
of these skills. A unique computer interactive system for measuring
each of these skills was developed that allows the individual
to select, prioritize, and modify his or her responses in accordance
with continuously updated information provided.
Scoring of the MLE©
provides performance feedback, including ability profiles and
norms. The Management Research Institute's database is continually
updated, allowing normative data to be collected and kept current
over time. Experience shows high acceptance by examinees and
assessors.
The MLE©
has been shown to have high statistical reliabilities and significant
empirical validities for identifying leader potential, assessing
leadership quality, and predicting leadership effectiveness.
Measures Provided
The MLE provides
measures of the following six thinking skills found critical
to effective high-level leadership performance. Each measure
taps a number of important cognitive processes involved in each
skill as reflected in their performance of complex managerial
tasks. The MLE provides a skill profile and interpretive report.
General Problem Solving Skills
Emphasizes identifying and properly
defining problem elements in constructing the dimensions of
a problem in order to generate effective solutions. This includes
finding and delineating the information needed to develop solutions,
reconceptualizing information to fit the solution needed, critically
evaluating ideas for solution, including their utility, practicality,
and appropriateness, and monitoring progress, recognizing errors,
and adapting to changing circumstances.
Solution Construction Skills
Emphasizes the ability to select the
information that increases understanding of the parameters of
the problems and the characteristics and constraints in the
situation that can lead to a likely solution. This involves
the ability to reduce ambiguities, take into account trade-offs
and balances of risks and benefits, as well as time frames,
for constructing and implementing effective solutions. Other
examples of components of this skill include, taking into account
multiple and broader organizational goals, including short and
long-term goals, the intentions of entities outside the organization,
roles of incumbents needed, and concerns for team functioning.
Planning and Implementation
Skills
This skill includes effectiveness in
selecting, ordering, and prioritizing of strategic processes
that result in problem resolution. It emphasizes the sequencing
of actions, the specification of the steps necessary to implement
a particular solution. The skill involves effective decision-making
concerning when, where, and how strategic processes are to be
applied and action steps are to be carried out. This skill promotes
the application of underlying cognitive abilities such as information
ordering, visualization (forming images of finished or transformed
entities) and logical reasoning in the development of a solution
plan.
Solution Evaluation Skills
After potential solutions are generated,
effective problem solvers use convergent thinking processes
to evaluate the viability and appropriateness of each solution
relative to other solution candidates. This evaluation requires
identification for each alternative solution of key logistical
and social considerations, as well as its costs in resources
inherent to the problem. The skill involves evaluation of the
solution in terms of the best fit of alternative solutions to
the problem and factors affecting solution implementation.
Social Judgment Skills
Emphasized in this skill is the understanding
and monitoring of social dynamics within the problem-solving
situation. Effective problem solvers must have the sensitivity
and understanding of other peoples' perspectives and goals and
must be aware of their position in the political and social
hierarchy. Social judgment skills include awareness of the problem
solver's personal strengths and weaknesses, a capacity to work
with conflicting social demands, an awareness of the needs,
goals, and demands of other social constituencies and an awareness
of whether a proposed solution is consistent with existing social
dynamics. This skill involves understanding others and sensitivity
to social needs, goals, demands, and problems at the individual,
group, and systems levels.
Metacognitive Process
The previous five measures provide evidence
on how individuals apply specific metacognitive skills in solving
problems related to leadership in organizations. The metacognitive
process measure provides an evaluation of the extent to which
an individual demonstrates awareness of their prior understandings
as shown by their ability to reevaluate their understandings
over time in the light of new information. The skill facilitates
flexibility in creative problem solving, particularly in how
information is used and in the selection of solution strategies
that correspond to different types of problems.
The MLE©
1996, 2002 was developed by Management Research Institute, Inc.
All rights reserved. Further information can be obtained
from Edwin A. Fleishman, Ph.D. President, Management Research
Institute, Inc., 11304 Spur Wheel Lane. Potomac, MD 20854. Phone
301-299-9200 email MRIEAF@aol.com.