TopDec® online is the result of 25 years of research, clinical psychology practice and, eventually, organisational consulting. The original method was officially called the "SPORQ" (Shalit Perceptual Organisation and Reduction Questionnaire), otherwise known as "The Wheel" (in Swedish "Hjulet"). Hjulet became the proprietary method at Persona Consulting AB, the Swedish organisational consulting firm, where Dr. Shalit met and collaborated Dr. Gunilla Oerwen, the CEO. Dr. Shalit died in 1988, but his invention continued in use. A couple of name changes and a transfer of ownership to another of Dr. Oerwen's businesses, Vitalitet Human management AB, and the TopDec® instrument was born.

Shalit's original research, carried out for the Swedish Defence Research Institute, can be found in the public domain, in libraries in Sweden. The material has not been published online.