Our Partner Wiley - A Brief History

John Wiley & Sons, better known as Wiley, has established a strong position as a publisher and knowledge partner in science and technology since its founding in 1807. What began as a publishing house for literary and educational works grew into a company globally recognized for its reliability and dependability. The step toward developing assessment tools, now used internationally, was a natural extension of Wiley’s expertise in knowledge sharing. This article highlights Wiley's growth in the world of testing and assessment and our partnership that has existed since 2001.

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 behavioral 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.

Wiley’s assessment programs were founded on the same principles already present in its publishing activities: reliability, dependability, and thorough scientific 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 analyze behavioral traits and communication styles. Based on the theory of Dr. William Marston, DiSC offers insights into behavioral preferences and improves collaboration and communication within teams.

Since acquiring Inscape, Wiley has further developed and scientifically validated the DiSC products. This validation and continuous updates make the DiSC products reliable and current, with applications in diverse work environments.

Partnership with Profiles International The Netherlands

In 2001, we entered into a partnership with Wiley to make these assessment tools available in the Netherlands (Benelux). This partnership is focused on providing proven, reliable products and supporting people and organizations with insights that go beyond standard HR tools. Through our collaboration, we can offer a wide range of assessment options based on the scientific and psychometric standards Wiley has developed over the years.

Validation and Reliability

At Wiley, reliability is considered a core value. Before an assessment is launched, it undergoes intensive psychometric testing to ensure consistency and validity. Wiley applies an approach that ensures assessments like Everything DiSC are reliable. This is especially important for organizations that base decisions on assessments. With scientific support and thorough validation, Wiley aims to meet the highest standards in the industry.

Technological Innovation

Wiley has also focused on leveraging new technologies within assessments, such as digital platforms and data analysis. Through these developments, Wiley offers advanced reporting capabilities and increased accuracy. Innovations in this area ensure that assessment results are easily accessible and understandable, making 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. Organizations in over 100 countries use Wiley’s assessment tools for employee development, collaboration, and team dynamics. Wiley’s assessments provide insights that help companies better understand communication styles, optimize team composition, and develop leadership.

In the Netherlands, we see daily the added value these assessments bring to our clients. Organizations use the results to improve team structures and establish targeted development programs based on reliable data on behavioral preferences and communication patterns.

Future-Oriented and Flexible

Wiley continually invests in scientific research and new technologies to further enhance assessment tools. By continuing to innovate, Wiley meets the needs of companies seeking reliable tools for talent management and development. Our partnership with Wiley continues to evolve, and we remain committed to supporting organizations with valid and reliable assessments that offer profound insights.