In addition to behavioral feedback about a manager, developmental assessment centers also collect information about the manager's prior experience, motives, personality traits, skills, interests, and aspirations. Why?

Student answers may vary. Information about behavior and skills is integrated with information about motives, background, experience, and career aspirations to provide a more complete picture of the person's strengths, weaknesses, and potential. The rationale is that behavioral feedback alone is insufficient to change ineffective behaviors that are supported by strong motives, values, and self-concepts. Helping the person to confront weaknesses and develop a better self-understanding increases the likelihood of behavior change. Participants also receive counseling about developmental needs and career choices. To avoid the inherent dangers in this enhanced feedback, careful selection of participants is emphasized, to screen out people who would not benefit from it (or who may not be able to handle the stress).