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SCG developed an assessment algorithm that matches worker's interests, work values, and abilities with compatible job descriptions.
Background
Founded by Robert Hall in 1980, Hall Associates is a leading provider of vocational rehabilitation services to over 4,000 individuals throughout San Diego. Their mission is to empower workers to achieve vocational and life choices. Their client base primarily consists of individuals with a variety of physical, emotional and cognitive disabilities. Their services include vocational evaluation and planning as well as corporate training in areas such as employee selection, job accommodation, job retention and program development and evaluation. They provide expert witness services in civil litigation cases involving worker's compensation and long-term disability as well as other corporate and legal services.
Situation
In 2002, the company began development of the Software for Education, Employment, and Rehabilitation (SEER), a software application designed to assist vocational counselors match clients with compatible occupations. After compiling data on a client's past occupation, the counselor matched this profile with job titles pulled from the O*NET database, an occupational database sponsored by the Department of Labor.
Two years later, in response to customer feedback, the company decided to release a new version of the software. They wanted to incorporate suggested improvements, add selected new features, and optimize the use of O*NET functionality from within the application.
Key Goals
- Offer a simplified mode for user input
- Analyze compatible occupations based on assessment testing
- Update the application with the latest version of O*Net data
Solution
SCG developed an assessment algorithm that alleviated the need for highly complex calculations. The application identifies occupations that correlate to the worker's relative levels of interest, work values using the "Work Importance Locator", and abilities. Data is stored in an Access database and reports, developed using Crystal Reports, are seamlessly integrated into the application and may be printed or exported to Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Adobe PDF, or Text.
Results
The latest version of SEER software was released in late 2003 and is reportedly selling very well within the vocational rehabilitation community. SEER now includes an additional simplified mode that has received favorable customer review. Counselors may now input worker information such as skills, abilities, interests, and knowledge using a simplified ranking system for matching the results against O*NET data. As before, the functionality allows counselors to save worker profiles and compare "before" and "after" worker assessments.
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| challenges |
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Developing an algorithm to match SEER assessment input with O*NET data. |
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| technologies |
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Visual Basic 6 |
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Access |
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Crystal Reports |
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| results |
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Increased customer satisfaction |
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Optimized use of O*NET database |
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Increased marketability: Features that appeal to a wider range of users |
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