Performance Management Flashcards

Which rating scale uses written narratives to describe an employee's performance at each level?

Answer: Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scale (BARS)

BARS combines narrative descriptions of behavior with a numeric rating scale, anchoring each level with specific behavioral examples.

An employee disagrees with their performance appraisal rating. What is the BEST first step the HR professional should recommend?

Answer: Discuss concerns directly with the supervisor

The recommended first step is to address disagreements directly with the supervisor before escalating to formal grievance procedures.

What does 'management by objectives' (MBO) primarily emphasize?

Answer: Setting mutually agreed-upon goals between manager and employee

MBO is a collaborative process where managers and employees jointly set specific, measurable objectives that guide performance evaluation.

Which type of performance appraisal error occurs when a rater allows one negative trait to influence all other ratings?

Answer: Horn effect

The horn effect occurs when one negative characteristic causes a rater to rate an employee negatively across all dimensions.

A supervisor rates all employees as 'average' to avoid conflict. This is an example of:

Answer: Central tendency error

Central tendency error occurs when raters avoid extreme ratings and cluster all evaluations around the midpoint of the scale.

What is the primary purpose of a performance improvement plan (PIP)?

Answer: To provide structured support for an employee to meet performance expectations

A PIP is designed to give underperforming employees clear expectations, resources, and timelines to improve their performance.

Which of the following is a characteristic of effective performance standards?

Answer: They are specific, measurable, and job-related

Effective performance standards must be specific, measurable, and directly tied to job requirements to be fair and legally defensible.