Wiley’s Origins and Rise
Wiley was founded in 1807, beginning as a publisher of literary and educational works in New York. The early years were focused mainly on publications in the humanities. An interesting detail in Wiley’s history is that it published some works by Edgar Allan Poe.
In addition to its academic and assessment publications, Wiley is also known as the publisher of the popular For Dummies series. This series, with thousands of titles on a wide range of subjects, aims to make complex knowledge accessible to a broad audience. The success of For Dummies demonstrates Wiley’s ability to make valuable information understandable and approachable, a philosophy that also permeates their approach to assessments and personal development tools.
Throughout the 20th century, Wiley expanded its publications into science, technology, and engineering. This gave the company more experience in publishing critical and reliable information, laying a strong foundation for later developments in testing and assessments.
First Steps Toward Assessments
The step into testing and assessment came for Wiley in the latter half of the 20th century. Due to the increasing demand for measurable and reliable assessments in both education and business, there arose a need for psychometric tools that could capture behavioural and personality traits. Wiley saw this need and began collaborating with psychometric experts and developers to create assessments applicable in both academia and the business world.
According to Wiley, its assessment programmes build on the principles of its publishing activities: reliability and careful research.
Acquisition of Inscape and the Growth of DiSC
A significant step in Wiley’s assessment history was the acquisition of Inscape Publishing in 2012. Inscape, one of the key developers of the DiSC profile, provided a product that is used worldwide to analyse behavioural traits and communication styles. Based on the theory of Dr. William Marston, DiSC offers insights into behavioural preferences and improves collaboration and communication within teams.
Since acquiring Inscape, Wiley has continued to develop and validate the DiSC products. The products are used in diverse work environments.
Our work with Wiley
Profiles International The Netherlands was founded in 2001. As a partner, we make assessment tools, including Everything DiSC, available in the Netherlands and the Benelux and support people and organisations in using them. This allows us to offer a wide range of assessments based on the publishers’ psychometric standards.
Validation and Reliability
Wiley describes psychometric testing of its assessments before launch, aimed at consistency and validity. This is especially important for organisations that base decisions on assessments such as Everything DiSC. For any assessment you use, ask for the documentation on reliability and validity.
Technological Innovation
Wiley has also focused on leveraging new technologies within assessments, such as digital platforms and data analysis. Through these developments, Wiley offers digital reports. This makes assessment results easy to access and understand, and the tools widely applicable for businesses and teams. With digital methods, Wiley continues to refine products based on current data and customer needs.
Global Impact
The impact of Wiley’s assessments is visible internationally. Organisations around the world use Wiley’s assessment tools for employee development, collaboration, and team dynamics. Wiley’s assessments provide insights that help companies better understand communication styles, optimise team composition, and develop leadership.
In the Netherlands, organisations use the results to discuss collaboration in teams and to set up targeted development programmes, based on data about behavioural preferences and communication patterns.
Future-Oriented and Flexible
Wiley says it continues to invest in research and new technology for its assessment tools. We remain committed to supporting organisations with reliable and valid assessments for talent management and development.
Want to know more about Everything DiSC? Read DiSC: behavioural styles and communication or explore our tests and assessments.
