Evaluation is a process of seeking and gathering appropriate evidence, analysing and interpreting that evidence and then making a judgement.   Evidence can be collected from various sources and in a number of ways, e.g.:

• By interviewing holders of personal development portfolios (to obtain,
  for example, personal accounts of decisions and actions taken in different situations)
• By sampling outputs of their work (e.g. letters to customers, minutes
  of meetings, reports, work instructions, plans, schedules, programmes)
• By searching appraisal and other performance management records
• By completing psychometric, competence or capability tests
• By interviewing their line managers and colleagues
• By holders of personal development portfolios completing
  self-assessment questionnaires
• By direct observation at work or in assessment centres.

Each of these methods is based upon a principal of outside inspection rather than on the holders' of personal development portfolios ownership and co-operation. On their own these methods run the risk of creating negative attitudes to the audit process, to its outcomes and to future development activities. Therefore we recommends an approach in which individual holders of personal development portfolios, following appropriate briefing and with support, are asked to produce their own evidence to demonstrate that their values and behaviours match your organisations benchmark. The evidence will be collected and organised and will be discussed with the auditor, following which the auditor will seek corroboration, make a judgement and provide feedback.

Our consultants can undertake any of these work programmes, if required.

For compliance with the TDLB evidence must be:
• Valid   • Current   • Sufficient   • Authentic

We will provide support to holders of personal development portfolios and their line managers throughout this stage. For example, we could advise whether specific evidence meets the above rules and could also act as observers to holders of personal development portfolios when seeking observation evidence. This involvement will emphasise the developmental, rather than inspection, nature of this work.