1. Category Manager Assessment & Selection Orientation
2006

2. Agenda Purpose of the Assessment Assessment Components Confidentiality
Consent
Communication of Results
Assessment Process 2

3. Purpose of the Assessment
Gain a clear picture of your:
Strengths
Developmental Opportunities
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Gather information to develop an overall assessment report
Selection for Category Manager
Assessments
Web-based Testing
We use a standardized, reliable, and well-validated web-based assessment inventory to measure your leadership ability. Leadership inventories are used to understand an individual’s traits and characteristics related to leadership potential that is key to developing/mentoring others, setting direction, and leading change. This inventory is completed is web-based, and will be completed by you individually at a computer work-station.
Interview
Information about each candidate is gained through an interview conducted by two Subject Matter Experts from the Marketing Department (typically, Vice President or Director) and one Human Resources representative. The interview is behaviorally based and focuses on past career achievements, background, experience, skills, and successes in the various dimensions related to Category Director success.
Work Simulation Essay
Work simulation essays will provide a third source of information about you and your knowledge, skills, and abilities. This exercise is set in the context of Category Director at Safeway. You will be provided with your role in the work simulation, background information, and typical on-the-job reports. From this perspective, you will be asked to deal with a variety of common issues as if you were the employee in the role at Safeway. By “common issues” we mean those kinds of issues that most persons may face on a day-to-day basis as Category Director. Each of you will complete the essay individually using a computer work-station.
Accomplishment Record
This is the “let my record speak for itself” assessment method. Past, recent, and long-standing achievements that relate to job requirements are valid predictors of job success and have been proven useful in assessing applicants for new roles. An accomplishment record may ask you to describe your tenure at Safeway and work experience: in the industry, with Safeway, and/or in a management role.
Ethical, Legal, and, Professional Issues
Confidentiality
All assessment findings are confidential and will not be shared with other individuals.
To meet our responsibility to you, and to Safeway, who is requesting you to participate in this assessment, we want to inform you about what happens to the results from this assessment.
Your records are private, and access is limited to our Corporate Human Resources Development staff, to you, and to those in Safeway who legitimately expect to receive and use the information. No information from the assessment will be released to other individuals without your written approval and the written approval of Safeway.
Testing and Assessment Specialists in Corporate Human Resources Development will protect assessment instruments (tests, interview questions, essay), test scores, interview notes, rating sheets, and other documents developed during the course of the assessment.
Instruments, results, and associated documents will be securely stored in the Testing and Assessment department at Corporate Human Resources Development in a highly secure manner with very limited access to only those authorized.
Consent
Every candidate is participating voluntarily.
Every candidate is informed as to the nature of the process, the purpose, of the assessments, and the use of the results.
Every candidate has the right to discontinue participation in the assessment at any time.
Consent Form
I consent to participate in an assessment by Safeway. I understand that this assessment is being performed at the request of the Marketing Department as part of an overall process to determine my suitability for employment as a Category Director. As part of the process, I understand that I will complete a Leadership Inventory, Category Director Essay, and Interview. I understand that a report will be provided to Safeway and will become the property of Safeway’s Testing and Assessment department. Such files will be kept confidential, and will be released only to another qualified professional and only with prior written consent from both Safeway and myself.
Signed:________________________
Date:__________________________
After the Assessments
Communication of Results
Based on the above assessments, Testing and Assessment Specialists from Corporate Human Resources Development at Safeway will compile a comprehensive report about your knowledge, skills, abilities, and strengths. Assessment feedback may be in oral or written form. You will be given a complete explanation of the results from each assessment used. From this feedback, personal developmental goals MAY be explored and a plan created so that future growth is most beneficial to you. A reasonable timeframe for preparation and delivery of results is within a maximum of 5-10 business days after the assessment has been completed. 3

4. Assessment Components
Phase I
Skill Assessment
Participants: All qualified Individuals as identified by NP Senior Leadership
Phase II
Leadership Inventory
Financial Exercise
Participants: Qualified individuals who pass Phase I 3

5. Skill Assessment Similar to Safeway interview process
2 Category Directors and 1 Human Resources Representative
Approximately 1 hour
Behaviorally-based and focused on:
Past career achievements/successes
Background
Experience
Skills 5

6. Leadership Inventory 30 minutes to complete via paper-and-pencil
Assess traits and characteristics related to leadership potential
Developing/mentoring others
Setting direction
Leading change
*Note: Only those qualified individuals who
pass Phase I will complete the Leadership Inventory 4

7. Financial Exercise Situational Essay Questions
Set in the context of Non-Perishable Category Management role at Safeway
2 hours to complete questions
Short-answer format in Microsoft Word
You will be provided with:
Background information
Typical on-the-job reports
*Note: Only those qualified individuals who
pass Phase I will complete the Financial Exercise 6

8. Developmental Feedback
Written feedback report detailing strengths & developmental opportunities related to key Category Management competencies
Reference & Development Manual
Competency Definitions
Suggested Developmental Activities 10

9. Confidentiality All assessment results are confidential
No information will be released without your written approval and the written approval of Safeway
HRD will protect and securely store all assessment materials and scores 8

10. Consent Every candidate:
Learns the nature of the process, the purpose, of the assessments, and the use of the results
Participates voluntarily
Has the right to discontinue participation in the assessment at any time 9

11. Communication of Results
A comprehensive report about your Strengths, Developmental Opportunities, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
Oral and written feedback
Personal developmental goals may be explored and an action plan created 10