Management Skills Assessment Program (MSAP)

The Management Skills Assessment Program (MSAP) is designed to strengthen the engagement and preparation of high potential UC supervisors, managers, and professionals. It offers an intensive, off-site, assessment center experience for early career managers.

The program guides participants through a series of structured exercises observed by trained assessors who offer feedback about observed strengths and development areas. Subsequent, collaborative work after the program between the assessee participant and his/her sponsoring manager fine tunes a professional development plan designed to optimize assessment feedback.

Developing Management Potential

The Management Skills Assessment Program (MSAP) is a highly successful program offered throughout the UC system for more than 20 years. UC participates in the Southern Region of California with UC campuses in our area. MSAP is designed to assess, on an individual basis, the management skills of UC supervisors and managers. The program enables participants to identify managerial strengths, gain information on skills they need to improve, learn about the range of skills necessary for effective management, practice these skills in a supportive environment, and work with a manager trained to identify professional development activities. Participants demonstrate management skills in role-playing exercises that simulate typical management activities. The participant works with their assessors to design an individualized development plan based on the assessment of strengths and improvement opportunities.

MSAP is based on an Assessment Center approach that integrates personnel from across UC departments, sites, and hierarchy to assess core competencies that have been identified as essential for UC managers. It contributes a unique value by using integrated assessment centers to change and foster organizational culture.

Program Goals

The program has been designed to:

Build and sustain a sense of belonging (community) and purpose (alignment with our mission)

Overview of Program Components

The assessment center model brings together UC employees to perform two roles – assessors and assessees. Assessors arrive at the residential retreat location in advance to receive extensive training in the use of objective behavioral feedback. They are paired to work with a small set of assessees who arrive subsequently. During the next several days, assessees engage in a number of structured exercises, and their assessors observe and provide timely feedback. Near the end of the week, assessees receive a summary report of their strengths and improvement opportunities that they are encouraged to share with their managers when they return to work. Each is also encouraged to create and implement a professional development plan in partnership with their managers.

Assessee Selection Criteria

The program is best suited for high-potential individuals who have a demonstrated management career path. Applicants must have one or more years of service at UC (past probation, career status) as of the application deadline. Supervisor support is essential to the success of MSAP. Highest priority will be given to individuals with:

Assessor Selection Criteria

Assessors have found the MSAP experience to be valuable, personally and professionally, in addition to providing support to junior managers. Assessors receive a 2-day training prior to the program and additional training on-site to prepare them for their role. Assessors are expected to be experienced managers who meet most of the following criteria:

Please contact Melinda Crawford at melinda.crawford@hr.ucsb.edu or x-5781 for more information.

Online Assessee Application and Other Program Information

To apply online and see full details about the program, visit http://msap.ucr.edu. Questions? Please contact Melinda Crawford at melinda.crawford@hr.ucsb.edu or x5781.

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Last Modified Jul 24, 2009