Washington, D.C., June 1, 2009 — CPP, Inc., industry leader in research, training, and organizational development tools including the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) assessment, in partnership with online learning solutions provider ThinkWise, Inc., announced today from the ASTD International Conference and Exhibition, the launch of the Myers-Briggs® ThinkBox, a web-enabled learning-on-demand portal that leverages the Myers-Briggs instrument. This new learning environment will enable organizations using the Myers-Briggs assessment to extend their investment in the instrument through an informal, self-directed, employee-initiated learning platform. Additionally, the Myers-Briggs® ThinkBox provides organizations with an opportunity to make Myers-Briggs-based learning – the backbone of many corporate training programs – available to more people in a highly cost-effective way.
“As the executive who manages both IT and Human Resources – two very different departments – I needed an effective tool to help team members understand culture and personality differences and provide a common language to serve as a basis to enhance team effectiveness,” said Ann Harten, VP of Global Information Services and Human Resources, Haworth, Inc. “With its robust combination of tools and resources, in a dynamic web portal supported by the foundation of the Myers-Briggs personality types, the Myers-Briggs® ThinkBox was an obvious choice.”
The Myers-Briggs® ThinkBox supports learning agility by putting the individual at the center of the learning experience and offers timely, targeted, business-driven learning through the framework of the MBTI instrument. It addresses different learning preferences as well as job-specific challenges. The platform provides more Myers-Briggs-based learning tools than have ever been offered through a single platform, including interactive expert tips, eCoaching, videos, and problem-solving tools, all accessible via powerful search functionality based on personality type, business issue, or competency
“Budget cuts and hectic work schedules are contributing factors in the trend toward ‘informal’ learning, where information and learning must be made available to learners anytime, anywhere, and in flexible formats,” said Jeff Hayes, President and CEO, CPP, Inc. “Industry analysts estimate that up to 80% of today’s corporate learning is done informally. The Myers-Briggs® ThinkBox provides an informal learning environment that extends the traditional instructor-led training experience, and is an effective tool for nurturing top talent and developing leadership at every level.”
Additionally, the Myers-Briggs® ThinkBox is designed to help employees quickly and easily put their learning to work, providing personal development plans, email reminders, and feedback, as well as tools for peer-to-peer learning. The platform also enables content customization to support an organization’s unique competency approach.
“The Myers-Briggs® ThinkBox unites ThinkWise’s cutting edge online technology with the world’s most trusted and widely used personality assessment” said Roger Jansen, PhD, CEO, ThinkWise, Inc. “This new learning environment will introduce a world of possibilities to companies using Myers-Briggs-based training and offers a budget-friendly way to sustain employee development efforts for businesses struggling to do more with less.”
The portal supports team-building and improved management practices by allowing managers and employees to track team members by personality type, facilitating more effective collaboration and communication. Resources are linked to each of the sixteen MBTI types for typical strengths, development opportunities, and managing/mentoring tips.
The strategic alliance with ThinkWise represents CPP’s entry into on-demand learning. However, the Myers-Briggs® ThinkBox is only the first step in the relationship, which will involve ongoing collaboration on new products to support CPP’s Learning On Demand initiative.
For more information about Myers-Briggs® ThinkBox, visit www.mbtithinkbox.com.
About CPP, Inc.
Since its founding in 1956, CPP, Inc., has been a leading publisher and provider of innovative products and services for individual and organizational development, supplying reliable training solutions to businesses of all sizes, including the Fortune 500. The company’s hundreds of offerings have been used by millions of individuals in more than 100 countries, in more than 20 languages, to help people and organizations grow and develop by improving performance and increasing understanding. Among CPP’s world-renowned brands and services are the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, Strong Interest Inventory®, Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI), FIRO-B®, and CPI 260® assessments; and CPP Professional Services. For more information about CPP, visit www.cpp.com.
About ThinkWise, Inc.
ThinkWise is a leading developer of integrated talent management and development solutions, including ThinkBox, the innovative on-demand learning solution that is redefining online development. The full ThinkWise solution is an integrated set of tools designed to be simple, user-friendly, and flexible – providing modules for making smarter hiring decisions, aligning strategies and goals, providing performance feedback, and developing leadership competencies. The development module, ThinkBox, provides a vast library of on-demand resources including expert videos, avatar-guided eCoaching modules, interactive tips, articles, book summaries, and toolkits – all designed to be short and instantly applicable. ThinkWise, founded in 1999, is an eclectic mix of experts including psychologists, HR professionals, instructional designers, MBAs, experienced business executives, and developers who continue to re-shape the way organizations select, align, and develop their people. For more information about ThinkWise, visit www.ThinkWiseInc.com.