Variables and Indicators

Introduction

This document outlines the variables and indicators used by the GRI General Framework, along with their relationships. Variables and indicators were defined after the first hypotheses were formulated and the framework was mapped out, then refined during Step 2 of the project. The framework helps link the independent variables related to the use of assessment techniques with the antecedent variables and the dependent variable: the organization’s performance.

Framework Representation

The general framework presented below was initially built with an emphasis on the use of personality assessment by leaders and managers and was successfully tested in organizations. It underwent further refinements over the years, while expanding the scope of analyses to include other assessments, uses, and users, while keeping the focus on three aspects of performance: the strategic, social, and economic performances.

Variables

The framework includes 16 variables divided into three groups: independent, antecedent, and dependent variables.

• Independent variables. There are nine of them in two categories:
  • Practical use: "Organizational Development", "Leadership", "Coaching", "Recruitment", "Clinical", and "Medium Effect".
  • Theoretical Use: "Self and Social Awareness", "Learning", and "Language and Signs".
• Antecedent variables. There are four. "Assessment Technique", "User", "Environment", "Publisher and Consultant".
• Dependent variables. There are three. "Strategic", "Social", and "Economic".

The relationships between the most relevant variables were translated into hypotheses. The practical and theoretical independent variables influence each other, making it impossible to determine which variable in each group comes first. There is no latency between the two groups; they are nested. For example, the following relationships were noted:

• The use of "Organizational Development", "Leadership", "Recruitment", "Self and Social Awareness", and "Language and Signs" continues to improve the skills acquired through the "Learning" process. The acquired skills reinforce other uses and the "Language and Signs" associated with the assessment technique used to communicate with other users in the company.
• The use of the assessment technique in "Organizational Development" and "Recruitment" improves "Self and Social Awareness" and "Leadership". Use in "Leadership" will, in turn, foster "Language" use and vice versa. Better quality "Language" to communicate helps in "Leadership."
• Facilitating the development of "Language and Signs" reinforces all other uses, especially in "Learning". In return, the use of "Learning" reinforces the assessment technique’s "Language and Signs" in communication.

Other Relationships Between Variables

With the antecedent variables, the characteristics of the "Assessment Technique" are related to the "Publisher and Consultant." The quality of the results, as well as how the technique is taught by the publisher, may support the technique’ use by some users, such as clinicians, over others, such as coaches or managers, or vice versa: managers, over coaches, over clinicians.

The relationship between “Environment” and “Users” can be evidenced by the nature of the job, the skills, experience, and other characteristics required in certain environments, and the fit with people’s available characteristics and interest in working in such environments. The relationship between the two also applies to social behavior: some “Users” prefer structured environments (High 4), while others enjoy risky environments, such as start-ups in emerging markets (Low 4).

A relationship between "User" and "Assessment Technique" also exists, as some users are closely emotionally tied to the techniques they use. A similar relation exists between "Environment" and "Assessment Technique" when the technique has long been part of a company's culture. It may be included in the company's general policies for systematic use, for instance, in recruitment and promotion. Its deployment and effects may be long-term, requiring a strategic vision and involving the company’s top leaders and board.

Indicators and Values

The indicators are designed to acquire value through field observations and interviews. They are either objective or subjective:

• Objective indicators are those measured by an objective process, quantified with or without statistical analysis. This applies notably to the economic, strategic, and social performance indicators.

• Subjective indicators were identified during the first exploratory phase in the large and small fields, and then refined in phases 2 and 3. Each indicator was defined and re-coded for use in the framework.

Subjective indicator values are measured through interviews with users of the assessment technique and people in direct contact with them. Values are allocated based on the intensity of use, the significance of the effects, such as decisions made as a result of use, the changes enacted in the company's processes, policies, and culture, and the impact on individuals and their environment, among other factors.

The values assigned to subjective indicators are influenced by a person's conviction, voice tone, and attitudes (e.g., enthusiasm, neutrality, weariness). Here again, the adaptive profiles are informative. To assign the most accurate possible values, all these factors are recorded in the interview reports used with the framework. Highly detailed graduated scales are not necessary. Scales with three or four points are sufficient (see below).

Dependent and Independent Variables' Values

The objective indicators of the dependent performance variables are obtained from GRI’s adaptive profiles of the company or team concerned, on the one hand, and from economic performance indicators, on the other.

The subjective performance indicators and the indicators of the independent variables of use are evaluated on an ordinal scale with four values: very strong (VS), strong (S), low (L), and very low VL). This system forces the measure into low or high values, and avoids an overly neutral assessment if an "average" fifth value were allowed. A code of 1 or 2 letters is assigned to each value level.

Value Level	Code
Very strong (intense, very good, excellent, etc.)	VS
Strong (frequent, good, etc.)	S
Low (opportunistic, infrequent, etc.)	L
Very low (rare, non-existent, etc.)	VL

Antecedent Variables' Values

The indicators for the antecedent variables are derived from field interviews, observations, and other information on users, assessment techniques, publishers, consultants, and the environment, including the company and its culture, which are typically available on the Internet and in social media.

The ordinal scale on three values: high (H), intermediate (I), and low (L) allows, unlike the indicators for the dependent and independent variables, a "neutral" intermediate value. Measurements of the lower or upper values of the indicators are less precise but enough. A 1-letter H, S, or L is assigned to each indicator. The indicators of the “Assessment Technique” and the “Publisher and Consultant” variables are generally stable. Some indicators of the “User” and “Environment” variables may change over the observation period.

Value Level	Code
High	H
Intermediate	I
Low	L

Variables Recap. Table

The names and scales ​​of the variables, the 128 subjective indicators, and the 3 objective indicators in the framework are summarized in the following table. The indicators are specified in a separate note.

Variable	Name	Nbr of Indicators	Scale	Code
Independent Variables
Organizational Development	isuorga	7	Surveyed. Ordinal. 4 values.	O
Leadership	isulead	15	Surveyed. Ordinal. 4 values.	L
Coaching	isucoch	4	Surveyed. Ordinal. 4 values.	G
Recruitment	isurecr	7	Surveyed. Ordinal. 4 values.	S
Clinical	isuclin	4	Surveyed. Ordinal. 4 values.	N
Medium Effect	isumedi	4	Surveyed. Ordinal. 4 values.	D
Self and Social Awareness	isusesa	3	Surveyed. Ordinal. 4 values.	A
Learning	isulear	4	Surveyed. Ordinal. 4 values.	F
Language and Signs	isulasi	9	Surveyed. Ordinal. 4 values.	C
Antecedent Variables
Assessment Technique	isatech	21	3 groups. Surveyed. Ordinal. 3 values.	T
User	isauser	13	Surveyed. Ordinal. 3 values.	U
Environment	isaenvi	20	Surveyed. Ordinal. 3 values.	E
Publisher and Consultant	isapuco	14	Surveyed. Ordinal. 3 values.	B
Dependent Variables
Strategic Performance	iopstra	1	Measured. Discrete values ​​between 0 and 1.	P
Social Performance	iopsoc	1	Measured. Discrete values ​​between 0 and 1.	Q
	igpsoc	2	Surveyed. Ordinal. 4 values.
Economic performance	iopecon	1	Measured. Discrete values.	R
	igpecon	1	Surveyed. Ordinal. 4 values.