How Mission Alignment in Exam Development Strengthens Your Credentialing Program
It’s been one week since you posted a call for volunteers to help with refreshing the Job Task Analysis (JTA) for your credentialing exam, and the only inquiries you’ve gotten back have been from your co-workers. You double-checked to confirm the call was posted on your organization’s website and social media, and you know your email did indeed go out to your subscribers, because you are one of them! What happened?
This article explores the importance of mission alignment in exam development and how it supports a strong, credible certification program. This investment is not just for employees, but all interested parties, including certificate holders and/or subject matter experts (SMEs), partner organizations and prospective candidates.
Mission Alignment in Exam Development Drives Engagement
Several reasons could explain why recruiting for your JTA isn’t eliciting more responses: time commitment constraints, SMEs’ perception of the activity as unimportant, imposter syndrome, etc. These are all practical and valid reasons why SME interest might be low, and there is no universal solution that will result in increased engagement. However, having a clear strategy for mission alignment in exam development goes a long way in recruiting and retaining motivated SMEs who are willing to help.
Connecting Certificants to Your Organizational Mission
Your candidates pursued your credential because they saw personal, professional, and/or economic value. They may have also found your organization’s mission statement to be one they can relate to, aspire to, and uphold. Providing opportunities for credential and non-credential holders to network with you, your organization, and each other at industry events, conferences, or workshops helps to create belongingness, or a sense of community (McMillan & Chavis, 1986; Chavis & Lee, 2015). This alignment between the credentialing body and credential holders provides a strong foundation for future opportunities to work together.
Although this value is most substantial for individuals upon earning their credential, credentialing organizations must continue providing opportunities to maintain this connection with their constituents. While recertification requires ongoing effort for credential holders to stay active in maintaining competency, promoting other voluntary opportunities beyond conference participation to your certificants is beneficial. This might include:
- Drawings, sweepstakes, or lotteries of prizes in exchange for help, attendance, or service
- Providing references or resources about new developments within your industry
- Offering free webinars to learn about a new product or skill
- Social media postings encouraging replies, attendance, or future correspondence
These activities promote opportunities for your supporters to remain engaged, continue learning, and stay invested in your organization.
Bringing SMEs Onboard
To create buy-in, SMEs must understand why an activity is important both for the profession and for them personally. If SMEs aren’t invested in the mission, they are less likely to help. Even if an SME participates, it is essential to ensure they are genuinely motivated. This can be accomplished by:
- Communicating that their help is necessary for the organization to fulfill its goals
- Explaining the activity (e.g., what is required, how long it takes) and how it aligns with the organization, as well as how their efforts contribute to a fair, valid, and reliable exam
- Offering incentives (e.g., monetary, continuing education credits, organizational gear or swag) to compensate the SMEs for their time and help
- Making SMEs feel welcomed, providing positive feedback, and thanking them for their time
The organization’s efforts should be transparent and respectful while valuing the SMEs for their knowledge and time. In turn, the SMEs are more likely to feel a stronger sense of purpose, be more willing to help, and be enthusiastic about the exam activity.
The Impact of Mission Alignment in Exam Development on Credential Value
Having SMEs that feel valued will lead to an exam that has a consistent, streamlined process with sufficient validation evidence to support the development of the exam. The exam blueprint will be aligned closely with the profession through in-depth SME discussions on what tasks, knowledge, and skills are essential for a newly certified professional to demonstrate. Item writers operating from a clear blueprint will be able and motivated to write and review items appropriate for the target audience and purpose of the exam. The performance standard set for the exam will be based on SMEs who gave strong thought about the capabilities of the minimally qualified candidate. And the form statistics will reflect an exam that is leveled appropriately and distinguishes candidates who are ready to enter the profession from those who are not.
The more effort that can be devoted to your organization’s mission and maintaining meaningful relationships with your SMEs, the more SMEs will show interest and willingness to participate, preventing the need to spend additional time on recruitment and delaying crucial milestones for your program. Strong mission alignment in exam development ensures exams are defensible, relevant, and closely aligned with professional practice.
Need help driving your mission home?
Quadterion leads credentialing organizations through the test development process by listening to your organization’s unique needs and being proactive in your program’s customized design and development. Learn more about how Quadterion can provide leadership guidance and add value to your credential by reaching out today!
References
McMillan, D. W., & Chavis, D. M. (1986). Sense of Community: A Definition and Theory. Journal of Community Psychology, 14(1), 6-23.