Aligning Organizational Goals Through Practice Analysis

A flow chart made of wooden blocks, pointing toward a target, illustrating practice analysis as a concept.

This blog will be the first in a series exploring the interconnected relationship between principles of leadership and validity in the context of measurement in credentialing exams. Our focus in this post is practice analysis.

Validity as a Foundation

When it comes to creating a valid exam, the process is anything but simple. A “valid” exam must go through rigorous processes to ensure it accurately measures what it claims to measure. In simpler terms, validity is the extent to which an exam score supports the intended interpretation of the exam’s results.

Although this post isn’t focused solely on the concept of validity, it’s essential to recognize it as an evidentiary argument. One critical piece of this argument is how the exam’s purpose—or construct—was defined in the first place. This initial step sets the foundation for everything that follows, underscoring the importance of alignment between the exam’s design and intended outcomes.

The Role of Practice Analysis in Certification Exams

In the world of certification, credentialing and licensure, defining the construct of what’s being measured typically starts with a detailed study. This study goes by various names, such as a practice analysis, job analysis, job task analysis, or role delineation study. While the terminology varies slightly, the purpose remains the same: to establish a foundation for exams that make high-stakes decisions about a person’s competence in a specific field.

These studies ensure that the exam aligns with:

  • The organization’s mission and objectives – Supporting the overarching goals of the institution developing the exam
  • The needs of the field – Evaluating individuals’ readiness to enter the profession and meet its demands
  • The public interest – Ensuring those who pass the exam demonstrate a level of competence that protects people from harm

When an organization develops a practice analysis, it’s not just creating a checklist of skills. It’s building a framework that reflects what’s critical for success in the field while aligning with public expectations of safety and service quality.

What Is Practice Analysis?

A practice analysis is a systematic process that evaluates and defines the essential knowledge, skills and abilities needed to perform in a specific role or field. It serves as the foundation for creating standards, assessments and training programs that ensure individuals are well-prepared to meet the demands of their profession with competence and professionalism.

But why does this matter? And how does it relate to leadership?

Defining Purpose in Practice Analysis and Leadership

The importance of practice analysis lies in its ability to anchor decision-making. Think of it as a North Star—a guiding principle that helps navigate complex choices. Throughout my career, I’ve often faced tough decisions about trade-offs or methodological techniques. In those moments, stepping back and asking a simple but profound question—”What is the purpose of this exam?”—has provided clarity.

This focus on purpose, embedded into the foundation of practice analysis, highlights two key leadership principles:

  • Alignment
  • Plan and Detach

1. Alignment: Staying True to the Mission

Alignment remains a cornerstone of validity throughout this process. From defining the construct to developing the exam and interpreting the results, each step must connect seamlessly to ensure the exam serves its purpose. This alignment ensures the exam is technically sound but also meaningful and relevant.

In leadership, much like in exam development, alignment ensures that goals, processes, and outcomes remain connected, building trust and credibility along the way.

A credentialing program’s practice analysis must align with its mission. But having a mission is only the starting point; it must also be actionable and achievable. When every aspect of a practice analysis aligns with the mission—whether it’s gathering data or designing assessments—it creates a cohesive system where each part supports the whole.

Leadership works the same way. Precise alignment between an organization’s mission and actions builds trust, ensures efficiency and fosters meaningful progress.

2. Plan and Detach: Creating a Clear Path

Generating a purpose is one thing, but achieving it requires thoughtful action. Here’s where detachment comes in. Practice analysis exemplifies this process by:

  • Gathering expertise: It brings together subject matter experts who provide insights into the field
  • Soliciting feedback: Professionals share what knowledge, tasks and skills are most important
  • Creating consensus: A structured approach distills this information into a clear framework, paving the way for future assessments and standards

For leaders, this process reminds them to step back from the daily grind, focus on the big picture and create actionable plans aligned with their mission.

Why Effective Communication Matters

The results of a practice analysis must be communicated clearly to ensure its value is understood and upheld.

This communication serves three critical purposes:

  • Fairness to Examinees: Transparency links exam content directly to the knowledge and skills required for the job, helping examinees see the exam as relevant and fair
  • Legal Defensibility: Clearly explaining how the practice analysis informs exam design demonstrates alignment with professional standards and reduces challenges to the exam’s validity
  • Public Protection: By grounding certification decisions in a valid and thorough analysis, organizations build trust and ensure the public receives high-quality services

In this way, effective communication becomes an integral part of the validity argument. It ensures the results of a practice analysis are practical, defensible and beneficial to all stakeholders—professionals, organizations and the public alike.

Aligning Practice Analysis with Organizational Goals

  • Is your mission statement well-defined? Let us help.
  • Purposeful Planning: Connecting the practice analysis to strategic objectives, such as increasing accessibility or expanding into new markets
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Aligning input from diverse SMEs with the organization’s mission and vision
  • Outcome-Driven Framework: Using practice analysis to address gaps in professional competence or improve industry standards

Final Thoughts: Valid Exams and Organizational Excellence

As I reflected on the principles of validity, I realized how deeply they intertwine with leadership concepts. This blog aimed to highlight the connection between these principles and their impact on exam validity, specifically through the lens of a practice analysis.

A practice analysis grounded in organizational goals ensures that a credentialing program aligns with its mission. This alignment strengthens the program’s validity, promotes fairness, builds stakeholder trust and upholds professional standards.

Future posts will explore additional facets of validity, shedding light on how they can refine professional standards, lead to fairer outcomes, and foster trust. The beauty of these principles is their applicability: they are not just abstract ideas but actionable skills that can be learned and practiced.

For years, I believed leadership was an innate quality—something you either had or didn’t. However, applying these principles has shown me that leadership can be developed, refined and incorporated into everyday practices. These concepts have become an essential part of my toolkit, and I’m excited to share them with you so they can become part of yours, too.

Let’s continue this journey as we explore how leadership principles and the pursuit of validity can drive excellence in any field.

By Ian Hembry, Ph.D., Principal Psychometrician

Are you ready to transform your credentialing program with a purpose-driven approach to practice analysis? Contact Quadterion to learn how we can guide your team toward success.