A newly developed assessment center is available to measure many of the leadership competencies that serve as the foundation for the Executive Core Qualifications. Exercises can be mixed and matched with relative ease to meet agency-specific requirements. During the assessments, the candidate assumes the role of a manager in a fictitious agency. The assessment is designed to approximate the "look" and "feel" of a typical day in the life of a Federal Government supervisor, manager, or executive. Four types of exercises are currently available:

• Individual Exercise. The individual exercise is designed to assess problem solving, decision making, flexibility, interpersonal skills, oral communication, and related competencies. The candidate must quickly and efficiently sort through a variety of material and determine the best course of action to complete the assigned task.
• Group Exercise. The group interaction is designed to assess interpersonal skills, conflict management, team building, oral communication, and related competencies. Several candidates work as a group to resolve a problem within a specified period of time.
• Strategic Analysis Exercise. The strategic analysis exercise is designed to assess strategic thinking, vision, and related competencies. The candidate must evaluate available information and determine the best course of action in response to a strategic planning situation facing the agency.
• Management Problems. The management problems are designed to simulate the high visibility, rapid response activities prevalent in a manager's workday. These exercises are designed to measure competencies such as decisiveness, flexibility, and related competencies.