Chapter 10

Question 1

What is performance management?

Answer 1

Performance management is the process of encompassing all activities related to improving employee performance productivity, and effectiveness. Setting SMART goals.

Question 2

What is task performance?

Answer 2

Task performance is an individual’s direct contribution to their job-related processes.

Question 3

What is contextual performance?*

Answer 3

Contextual performance is an individual’s indirect contribution to the organization by improving the organizational, social, and psychological behaviours that contribute to organizational effectiveness beyond those specified for the job.

Question 4

What is a graphic rating scale?

Answer 4

A graphic rating scale is a scale that lists a number of traits and a range of performance for each. The employee is then rated by identifying the score that best describes his or her level of performance for each trait.

Question 5

What is the alteration ranking method?

Answer 5

The alteration ranking method ranks employees from best to worst on a particular trait.

Question 6

What is a paired comparison method?

Answer 6

A paired comparison method is ranking employees by making a chart of all possible pairs of employees for each trait and indicating the better employee of the pair.

Question 7

What is forced distribution method?

Answer 7

The forced distribution method is predetermined percentages of ratees are placed in various performance categories.

Question 8

What is the critical incident method?

Answer 8

The critical incident method is keeping a record of uncommonly good or undesirable examples of an employee’s work-related behaviour and reviewing the list with the employee at predetermined times.

Question 9

What is behaviourally anchored rating scale (BARS)?*

Answer 9

The behaviourally anchored scale (BARS) an appraisal method that aims to combine the benefits of narratives, critical incidents, and quantified ratings by anchoring a quantified scale with specific narrative examples of good and poor performance.

Question 10

What is management by objectives (MBO)?

Answer 10

Management by objectives (MBO) involves setting specific measurable goals with each employee and then periodically reviewing the progress made.

Question 11

What is electronic performance monitoring (EPM)?

Answer 11

Electronic performance monitoring (EPM) is having supervisors electronically monitor the amount of computerized data an employee is processing per day and thereby his or her performance.

Question 12

What are unclear performance standards?

Answer 12

Unclear performance standards are vague standards of an appraisal scale that is too open to interpretation of traits.

Question 13

What is the halo effect?

Answer 13

The halo effect is a problem that occurs when a supervisor’s rating of an employee on one trait baises rating of that person on other traits.

Question 14

What is central tendency?

Answer 14

Central tendency is a tendency to rate all employees in the middle of the scale.

Question 15

What is strictness/leniency?

Answer 15

Strictness and leniency is a problem that occurs when a supervisor that has a tendency to rate all employees either low or high.

Question 16

What is an appraisal bias?

Answer 16

An appraisal bias is the tendency to allow individuals differences, such as age, race, and sex, to affect the appraisal ratings that these employees receive.

Question 17

What is the recency effect?

Answer 17

The recency effect is the rating error that occurs when ratings are based on the employee’s most recent performance rather than on performance throughout the appraisal period.

Question 18

What is similar-to-me bias?

Answer 18

The tendency to give higher performance ratings to employees who are perceived to be similar to rater in some way.

Question 19

What is the 360-degree appraisal?

Answer 19

The 360-degree appraisal is a performance appraisal technique that uses multiple raters including peers, employees reporting to the appraisee, supervisors, and customers.

Question 20

What is the formal appraisal discussion?

Answer 20

A formal appraisal discussion is an interview in which the supervisor and employee review the appraisal and make plans to remedy deficiencies and reinforce strengths.