The assessment center (AC), with its origins in World War II and its steady evolution in the decades since, is 1 way that consulting psychologists can help organizations in their selection and development of effective managers. With the emergence of powerful new technologies and the simultaneous imperative for organizations to globalize, the AC is at a pivotal moment. It can become obsolete, or it can greatly expand its reach and effectiveness. A transformation needs to occur. One way this transformation can occur is through the development of a virtual assessment center (VAC) that takes advantage of emerging technologies to make it possible for participants from all around the world to take part. This article considers the viability-affordances, challenges, and opportunities-of new technologies for use in a VAC, and offers a report on how a virtual-world platform employed to conduct a global business simulation is a proof of concept for the VAC, especially in its taking advantage of big data for individual and team assessment. Suggestions for future research and some implications for practice are provided.
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