IDM Assessments Overview

IDM is known for its evidence based work in coaching and consulting. In both areas, our work is grounded in methods validated in developmental psychology and cognitive science.

It is important to understand the nature of developmental assessments. They are not ‘tests,’ but rather one-hour conversations with a client eager to understand him- or herself better and learn “better thinking.” Such conversations are entirely confidential. They require a signed agreement. None of what transpires in the conversations “leaves the room” without the consent of the interviewee. It is, however, anonymously used for research and teaching purposes, as per agreement.

There are presently two types of assessment:

  1. Comprehensive assessment
  2. Stand-alone cognitive assessment.

The first comprises two interviews, a cognitive and a social-emotional one, and a questionnaire called “Need/Press” which explores a client’s psychological balance at work. The second assessment is solely focused on the client’s thinking, separated out from the other two assessments mentioned. This makes sense since assessing a person’s phase of cognitive development alone is a major help for people in changing their life and work. After all, you can’t change your social-emotional stage of meaning making, but you can change your thinking! And doing so influences your psychological balance at work and in life as a matter of course.

There are multiple reasons for signing up for either a comprehensive or cognitive assessment:

  • Planning to change career
  • Planning to change employer or becoming self-employed
  • Urge to understand oneself better
  • Personal or professional crisis
  • Recent or future promotion
  • Experiencing the assessments first-hand as a client when writing an IDM case study in Program One, Module D
  • Wanting to offer coaching or consulting clients additional and unique services based on IDM’s CDF methodology
  • And others.

Importantly, feedback on the assessments is extensive. For the comprehensive assessment, it consists of a written report sent to the client prior to the feedback session in which it is fully explored. For the stand-alone cognitive assessment, it consists of a graph, also explained during feedback, which shows the client’s ‘moves-in-thought’ during the interview, and thus indicates “how the client presently thinks.”

Payment for the assessment is expected up front. For an appointment, write to the Director of Education, Dr. Otto Laske, at with suggestions of date and time.

For More Information


Ordering IDM Assessments

Sign Up for a Comprehensive Developmental Assessment

Click the PayPal logo below to order a comprehensive developmental assessment ($1,450 USD for IDM students; $2,25 for Managers) through our secure online ordering system. You can use Visa, MasterCard or PayPal.


For IDM Students - $1,450



For Managers - $2,250



Sign Up for a Stand-Alone Cognitive Assessment

Click the PayPal logo below to order a Cognitive Assessment – ($550) through our secure online ordering system. You can use Visa, MasterCard or PayPal.

C.A.M.S.

In order to permit use of the CDF methodology by large groups of people over the internet, IDM has become part of a Consortium providing a prototype of CAMS, the IDM Capability Management System.

CAMS focuses on people placement and work force development in organizations. It requires users to endorse and select stories and descriptions that reflect their development in the three dimensions noted above.

CAMS is prototyped for three groups of users:

  • Individual assessees
  • HR managers
  • CAMS consulting group

Only individual assesses have full access to all CAMS results. HR Management obtains only assessment summaries that protect individual confidentiality. The CAMS consulting group is engaged in maintenance and continuous improvement of the CAMS instrument.

For more detailed information about CAMS write to the Director of IDM, Dr. Otto Laske, at .



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