Pearson

Talent Assessment Project

Research

There was a business requirement within Pearson to conduct a series of in-depth talent assessments of current employees for the purpose of restructure and development.

Challenge

To design and deliver a bespoke assessment centre to reflect the requirements and values of Pearson.

Solution

Zircon worked with Pearson to develop a two phase assessment process.

Phase 1: The first phase assessed the senior leaders of Pearson Product Development using interviews to identify current challenges and changes occurring across the organisation. This enabled Zircon to design a robust and accurate assessment process based upon the future requirements of Pearson, ensuring a future focus rather than simply looking at what was currently needed.
Phase 2: This robust assessment process was then adapted and applied in the second phase to assess a further 69 employees of Pearson within the UK and US, with every stage being delivered in close contact with the Pearson project leads to ensure expectations were being met. The in-depth assessment consisted of a number of different exercises, including a business case study and presentation, a blended high potential interview, and a validation interview using the Wave personality questionnaire.

Results

Zircon calibrated the results and produced in-depth development reports to support individual feedback sessions for all candidates. This was to ensure that the evidence collected in the assessments could be used constructively to support future development.

Feedback

The project team worked extremely hard to meet all our requirements for this project. They ensured to provide a flexible and adaptable service to meet our every need as the project evolved, maintaining constant communication from beginning to end. The meticulous delivery significantly contributed to the success of the project, with Zircon providing a project director, project manager, and project coordinator throughout to ensure nothing ‘slipped through the net’. Paul Marsden, Pearson Change Director.

“Thank you to Zircon and for making this very challenging project possible. We gave the team tough deadlines, strong requirements and high standards to achieve. The team were professional and responsive and provided a credible, reliable and well-organised service, which undoubtedly complemented their detail focus and broad experience within talent assessment and management. As a result the Zircon team developed a bespoke, in-depth assessment design which clearly aligned with the future needs of Pearson, enabling the selection of high potentials to drive the development and restructure of our business.” Hannah Foster People Director, Pearson Global English