Lessons learned from developing and applying self-assessment instruments for evaluating project management competences in two large organizations

Abstract

The paper reports on lessons learned from developing and applying self-assessments instruments in two cases from Norway and Germany. The purpose of the self-assessment instruments has been to obtain an overall understanding of the competence level on both individual and organizational level. The most important lessons learned from developing the self-instrument suggest that following a systematic top-down process as well as involving respondents from various position are key factors to create an acceptance in the organization to the self-assessment instrument. Furthermore, the most important lessons learned from applying the instrument suggest that the properly designed self-assessment tool essentially contributes to the competence management and further resource planning of the organization. Both case studies presented in the paper provide the reader with several suggestions which can be implemented during the development or improvement of human resource management tools.