Psychological questionnaire for a job position
,Questionnaire scenario
A psychology consultancy firm, PsyInc, has been contacted by a cars sales
company, Wheels Ltd, to assist them with a psychological assessment for a sales
manager position.
There are multiple sales teams within Wheels Ltd, and one of the sales managers
has just retired. Wheels Ltd are now looking to hire a sales manager. This
position requires that the individual employed will guide a team of sales people
and promote cooperation within the team, as well as contribute to the overall
optimal functioning of sales teams within Wheels Ltd.
A psychologist from PsyInc decides to devise a psychological interview that will
be administered to all candidates who are interviewed for the sales manager
position. The interview will be based on African perspectives and the
ecosystemic approach.
Interviewing for guidance and cooperation within the sales team – African
perspectives
The African perspective values collectivism, and contributing to the survival of
community. Notions such as cooperation, interdependence and communality are
what guides those who adopt this perspective. In this view, behaviour is
determined by external factors (such as the environment or social relations), and
cannot be influenced by the individual. Freedom and autonomy are challenged,
as cooperation is seen as the most important force. The philosophy of ubuntu is
what the collective existence is led by in the African perspectives. Ubuntu is
about how one manages their interactions with other people, and it is also about
compassion and empathy. Therefore, from this perspective, the sales manager
should:
- Value collectivism (as opposed to individualism)
- Value cooperation
- Be willing to help others
- Attribute behaviour to external factors (rather than internal factors)
- Value the principles of ubuntu
, Interviewing for optimal functioning within the work environment – The
ecosystemic approach
The ecosystemic approach views optimal functioning as a relationship between
the individual and a system (in this case, co-workers, the organisation, the
environment). Under this approach, optimal functioning takes place when the
system as a whole is maximised, and not merely parts of the system. While it is
important that individuals pursue personal goals, those goals should not be
obtained at the expense of other systems. The environment and others should
provide individuals with the context and resources to fulfil their needs, as
systems are autonomous and self-regulating. Therefore, a healthy system is open
to new experiences and dynamic, while still maintaining a balance between
stability and change. Under the ecosystemic approach, the sales manager should:
- Be open to outside influences and new experiences
- Value autonomy
- Act in a manner that benefits the system as a whole
- Not pursue individual goals at the expense of others (co-workers, the
organisation)
- Maintain a balance between stability and change
Proposed questionnaire items
Question 1
When the team you are managing is working to finish a sales project, what is
more important: individual performance or group performance?
Justification for the question
This question is based on the African perspectives. The aim of this question is
to find out whether the candidate values collectivism or individualism. Group
performance should be valued more than individual performance, as
collectivism, cooperation and working together is important under the African
perspective. If the candidate indicates that they value individual performance
more than group performance, that would mean that he or she subscribes to the
Western view of the world, where individualism is valued.
,Questionnaire scenario
A psychology consultancy firm, PsyInc, has been contacted by a cars sales
company, Wheels Ltd, to assist them with a psychological assessment for a sales
manager position.
There are multiple sales teams within Wheels Ltd, and one of the sales managers
has just retired. Wheels Ltd are now looking to hire a sales manager. This
position requires that the individual employed will guide a team of sales people
and promote cooperation within the team, as well as contribute to the overall
optimal functioning of sales teams within Wheels Ltd.
A psychologist from PsyInc decides to devise a psychological interview that will
be administered to all candidates who are interviewed for the sales manager
position. The interview will be based on African perspectives and the
ecosystemic approach.
Interviewing for guidance and cooperation within the sales team – African
perspectives
The African perspective values collectivism, and contributing to the survival of
community. Notions such as cooperation, interdependence and communality are
what guides those who adopt this perspective. In this view, behaviour is
determined by external factors (such as the environment or social relations), and
cannot be influenced by the individual. Freedom and autonomy are challenged,
as cooperation is seen as the most important force. The philosophy of ubuntu is
what the collective existence is led by in the African perspectives. Ubuntu is
about how one manages their interactions with other people, and it is also about
compassion and empathy. Therefore, from this perspective, the sales manager
should:
- Value collectivism (as opposed to individualism)
- Value cooperation
- Be willing to help others
- Attribute behaviour to external factors (rather than internal factors)
- Value the principles of ubuntu
, Interviewing for optimal functioning within the work environment – The
ecosystemic approach
The ecosystemic approach views optimal functioning as a relationship between
the individual and a system (in this case, co-workers, the organisation, the
environment). Under this approach, optimal functioning takes place when the
system as a whole is maximised, and not merely parts of the system. While it is
important that individuals pursue personal goals, those goals should not be
obtained at the expense of other systems. The environment and others should
provide individuals with the context and resources to fulfil their needs, as
systems are autonomous and self-regulating. Therefore, a healthy system is open
to new experiences and dynamic, while still maintaining a balance between
stability and change. Under the ecosystemic approach, the sales manager should:
- Be open to outside influences and new experiences
- Value autonomy
- Act in a manner that benefits the system as a whole
- Not pursue individual goals at the expense of others (co-workers, the
organisation)
- Maintain a balance between stability and change
Proposed questionnaire items
Question 1
When the team you are managing is working to finish a sales project, what is
more important: individual performance or group performance?
Justification for the question
This question is based on the African perspectives. The aim of this question is
to find out whether the candidate values collectivism or individualism. Group
performance should be valued more than individual performance, as
collectivism, cooperation and working together is important under the African
perspective. If the candidate indicates that they value individual performance
more than group performance, that would mean that he or she subscribes to the
Western view of the world, where individualism is valued.
