30 Years of TVRLS: A Mission‑Driven Journey
An educational institution can sometimes be too large, distracting from the promotion of specialised knowledge. TVRLS was a natural choice—focused, agile, and committed to a clear mission: to throw light, make the less known known through feedback, discover and build on strengths, improve weak areas, and enhance the effectiveness of individuals, teams, and organisations.
Our Mission in Practice
Every product and intervention at TVRLS has been designed to fulfill this mission. Each tool is researched, tested, and experienced before being offered to others. Over 30 years, this philosophy has shaped several pioneering contributions:
1. Psychometric Testing
We developed our own tests for individual use, focusing on self‑concept, sense of efficacy, personal effectiveness, locus of control, interpersonal trust, work values, role effectiveness, motivational profiles, activity levels, and leadership styles. These tools provided personalised feedback rather than mass testing, helping individuals understand themselves better.
2. 360‑Degree Feedback
Originated and practiced at IIMA before TVRLS, 360‑degree feedback became our core competency. We innovated and popularised the RSDQ model, built tools for schools, NGOs, youth, and HR professionals, and conducted studies comparable to those of Zenger and Folkman in the USA.
We organised four conferences, sharing experiences from over 50 companies and consultants, and co‑authored The Power of 360 with Raju Rao. Our work spread internationally to Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nigeria, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.
3. Competency Mapping
Inspired by McClelland’s work and Bloom’s taxonomy, we developed our own methodology: Role Set Based Competency Mapping (RSBCN), which we trademarked. With education kits and training programs, we covered numerous companies and trained thousands of participants in India, Sri Lanka, Oman, and the UAE.
4. Assessment Centers
Since the mid‑1970s, assessment centers gained traction post‑liberalisation. TVRLS adopted rigorous textbook methodology—simulation exercises, role plays, psychometric tests, group discussions, and Behaviour Event Interviews. Over 30 years, more than 1,000 candidates went through our ADC programs, and 500 assessors were trained and certified.
5. Performance Management
We emphasised PMS as a development tool rather than appraisal. Our conviction grew stronger over time, reflected in revised editions of our book on PMS, published globally by Routledge. Our programs and workbooks focus on performance analysis, coaching, and development conversations.
6. Climate Surveys
We contributed HRD Climate, OCTAPACE, and POCTAPLACED surveys, with guidance from Dr. Udai Pareek. These surveys provided feedback on institutional leadership and innovation readiness, including studies of engineering colleges supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
7. HRD Audit and HRD Scorecard
Our star contribution to HR practice, developed with Dr. Pareek, evolved into a unique HRD audit methodology. Audits became tools for self‑renewal and rejuvenation, helping organisations restructure HR systems, processes, competencies, and culture. We trained and certified auditors in India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
Natural Extensions
In recent years, TVRLS expanded into:
• Coaching (integrated into PMS, 360, and ADCs, with ICF‑accredited coaches).
• Individual Development Plans (IDPs), with manuals and programs guiding implementation.
• Institution Building, facilitating self‑renewal in educational institutions and advising B‑schools.
• Culture Building and Effectiveness Programs, continuing the mission of enhancing individuals, teams, and organisations.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
Thirty years of TVRLS is a story of staying small yet impactful, specialised yet far‑reaching. Our journey affirms that knowledge must be stored, shared, and applied—and that every framework, tool, and intervention is meaningful only when it builds people.
Tags: #TVRLS30Years #HRD #LeadershipDevelopment #InstitutionBuilding #PerformanceManagement #360Feedback #CompetencyMapping #AssessmentCenters #HRDAudit #LifelongLearning
