Exploring the Possibility of Using Personality Testing: You work in Human Resources at Argot Products, a large local company that makes employee uniforms and other workplace gear. Your boss, HR Director Jack Aldridge, recently read a report from the Society for Human Resource Management on how companies are using personality testing to get the right people into the right positions. According to the report, almost 60% of the companies who were surveyed use personality tests as one part of their hiring/promotion process, and the industry that uses them the most is manufacturing. Also, the primary way the tests are used is to assess the candidates potential for middle-management positions. Jack wonders if Argot should use personality testing, especially for assessing employees managerial potential. He asks you if youll take the first steps toward exploring this question.

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You do a bit of informal research on personality testing, and you learn that there are several different kinds, that there may be legal issues involved, and of course that it comes with a cost. To learn more about how Argot might benefit from personality testing, you decide to call JobFit, a local HR consulting group. The receptionist puts you through to Nan Dawkins, one of the consultants, but you get her voice mail. Thinking quickly, you simply leave the message that youre calling to discuss the possible adoption of personality testing at Argot and that youll follow up with an email providing your specific questions.

Now write that email to Ms. Dawkins. Tell her enough about your company and ask her enough on-target questions to help her prepare a helpful response for you. (Doing some quick research on issues surrounding personality testing will help you do a good job on this assignment.)