Business Self-Assessment Tools

Diagnostics

Business diagnostics are tools used by companies to assess their strengths and weaknesses. The tools help to diagnose problems, highlight areas of opportunity for improvement or stimulate discussion on how to make their business more competitive.

The links in this section all offer detailed questionnaires for self-assessment tests of competence in all branches of management. While the main intention of this web site is to provide links that will help identify solutions to specific problems, these diagnostic tests can identify areas of management that are not a problem now, but probably deserve some attention.

E-Business diagnostic
Is your company ready for e-business? BDC’s diagnostic tools can provide you with helpful information regarding the e-business potential of your firm.

Steps to Competitiveness
For service companies, this Strategis website offers useful benchmarking for the principal management disciplines. These topics are also covered in the relevant topics for people with specific problems or challenges — needs assessment, planning, financing, technology, HR, marketing, partnerships, quality assurance and product launches.

Winning Retail 2nd Edition
Available on the Strategis website, this practical self-assessment workbook for independent retailers and small chains can be a useful resource tool for decision-makers to help them refine their retail business. The workbook includes a practical case study that allows you to get a better understanding of an independent retailer and its business development.

Business Management
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency has an excellent tool for a general diagnosis of your management skills in all the main operating areas — strategic planning, marketing, human resources, operations, finance and accounting and information management. On completion of the data input, you get a percentage score for each discipline and for overall competence.

Assessment Center
The Decision Point website offers a comprehensive tool for solving business problems. An important part is the Assessment Center which offers self-assessment questionnaires on all the main aspects of business management. You have to register, but it is free and carries no obligation.

Management Capabilities
As part of its advice to owner-operators on how to go about attracting investors in their companies, Strategis Steps to Growth Capital website notes that the company's management is one of the key considerations in any decision by an investor to entrust his or her money to the people who run a business. The section designed to help owner-operators anticipate investors' questions on this score is a useful tool for assessing the leadership and management of a company, so it serves as a diagnostic tool for management structure, track record, effectiveness and competence — with advice on how to rectify weaknesses.

Entrepreneurial Self-assessment
Are you the entrepreneurial type? BDC’s tool can help you better measure your entrepreneurial potential.

The Small Business Check-up
An on-line diagnostic tool to guide business managers and owners in the review of their business management practices and to assist them in developing an action plan to improve their business operations. This tool was designed by the Leadership and Management Development Council of British Columbia.