In April 2013 when it was reported that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had asked unemployed people to take psychometric tests that appeared to generate the same result, no matter what answers were given. According to newspaper reports, even the US Institute that devised the questionnaire told the DWP to stop using the tests, as they could not be scientifically validated.
With increasing pressure to evidence their decisions, it is natural that HR professionals want to call on an arsenal of tools to support their reasoning - whether in recruitment, talent management or L&D. And while the DWP example shows the way that tools can sometimes be implemented for the wrong reasons, in some cases organisations could be accused of blithely applying tools and approaches they've used for years with little consideration as to whether or not they're still fit for purpose.