Abstract: The present invention is an expatriate associate selection process that uses standardized motivational, behavioral, cultural, and technical assessments as the basis for the selection process. Associates who may be appropriate candidates for international assignments are identified. Each associate is asked to complete assessments that are used to evaluate skills, abilities, and motivations. The results are analyzed and tabulated so that results among candidates may be compared. At various points in the process, associates may voluntarily withdraw or the company may decide to remove the associates from further consideration. Associates may be given additional training to address any gaps that were identified during the assessments. Timing requirements may be analyzed so that the selection process starts well in advance of proposed assignments.

Abstract: A remote data acquisition and processing system is provided. One embodiment of the system of the present invention for use in monitoring utility operation includes at least one optical imaging device for generating computer-readable image data of a visual representation, generated by a utility meter, of utility operation-related data. A host processor, which is remotely located from the optical imaging device and the utility meter, is also provided in this embodiment of the present invention for generating the utility operation-related data from the image data and for storing the image data.