The COMPRINT: What to Look For and How to Use It
This article is dedicated to understanding and using the Birkman Comprint Report. The Comprint is an excellent tool to analyze, understand and predict team dynamics.
Why would I use it? For Teams
The Comprint is essentially a spreadsheet that summarizes and averages a group’s behavioral, occupational, and organizational information. The Comprint displays a page full of numbers, so don’t be discouraged if this report seems overwhelming at first glance. Because the report uses numerical data only, it requires a good working knowledge of Birkman Components and scores.
The first section of this article is dedicated to explaining the layout and structure of the Comprint Report. The second section explains how to use the report when analyzing and identifying group trends and dynamics.
Where is it in BirkmanDirect?
The Comprint Report can be found under the “Group” button in your BirkmanDirect system. The Comprint report offers various display options depending on your needs. The first time you run the report, we recommend using the default options but choose the full label option under the heading, Comprint ‐ display options, until you get comfortable with the Birkman terminology and abbreviations.
How do I use it? Comprint Layout and Structure
The Comprint allows you the option of displaying up to five sets of scales from the Birkman information. The scale options include: Preferred Work Styles, Interests and Life Style Grid Coordinates, Components and Organizational Focus. The last name of each group member is listed in alphabetical order in the left‐ hand column of the report and the individual scales are listed along the top. You will find the individual scores in the cells that line up according to the name and the scale and averages of the group along the bottom.
What do the numbers mean? Analyzing the Comprint data
Now you’re ready to move on to the analysis of the Comprint Report. Your analysis can be broken down into two primary steps. The first step is to analyze the report in terms of only the data. This includes noting the significant “gaps” in the group scores, highlighting where the group deviates from the Birkman social norms and identifying the outliers of the group. The second step involves comparing the data of the report with the feedback and goals you have received from your client.
How do I analyze these numbers?
1. Take a look at the Components and note any places where you see large gaps. When Birkman refers to “gaps”, we are referencing scores where there is a large spread between the Usual and
the Needs scores. This helps you to identify where the group as a whole may have trouble getting their needs met since their usual style is significantly different.
- Next you will want to compare the group’s scores with the Birkman norms. The Birkman social norms (found in your certification manual) allow you to identify where the group’s scores are consistent or where they deviate from the general population. The norms will help you identify which scales are important in understanding the culture of the team. Areas where the group deviates from the social norms will always be important points of discussion. They highlight the distinguishing factors that makes the group unique and can often explain why the group is successful or struggling in particular areas.
- The next step is to identify the outliers in the group. An outlier is someone whose scores are significantly different from the group average. Outlying scores will be even more significant when the outlier is a manager or a leader in the group.
What about the Interest Scores? Analyzing the Areas of Interest
Most of your Comprint analysis will focus on the Components since this is the behavioral piece of the Birkman. However, the Areas of Interest can also be an interesting point of analysis for a group or a team. The norm for each of the Areas of Interest scales is 50. This gives you an easy benchmark to identify whether an Interest score is on the low or the high side. Scores outside of a 10‐point standard deviation should be considered significant both in terms of the team’s averages and in identifying outliers.