Performance Management Flashcards
7 cards from real SPHR practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Performance Management flashcards as text
Which performance management approach requires managers to evaluate employees by placing them into predetermined categories such as top performers, average performers, and low performers?
Answer: Forced distribution (stack ranking)
Forced distribution requires managers to rank employees into fixed percentage groups, mirroring a bell curve distribution.
In a Management by Objectives (MBO) system, goals are most effective when they are set:
Answer: Collaboratively between manager and employee
MBO works best when goals are set collaboratively, increasing employee buy-in and alignment with organizational objectives.
Which type of performance appraisal error occurs when a rater allows one outstanding trait to positively influence ratings across all other dimensions?
Answer: Halo effect
The halo effect occurs when one positive characteristic causes a rater to rate an employee favorably on all other dimensions.
Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scales (BARS) are most valued because they:
Answer: Tie performance ratings to specific observable behaviors
BARS anchor each rating level to concrete behavioral examples, improving consistency and reducing rater subjectivity.
When using a 360-degree feedback system, which group of raters is MOST important for assessing a senior HR leader's strategic influence?
Answer: Peers, direct reports, and senior leadership
360-degree feedback gains its value from multiple perspectives, including peers, subordinates, and superiors, providing a well-rounded view of performance.
A performance improvement plan (PIP) is BEST described as:
Answer: A structured plan to help an underperforming employee meet job expectations
A PIP is a documented plan outlining specific performance deficiencies and the steps needed to achieve satisfactory performance.
Which metric BEST measures the effectiveness of a performance management system in differentiating high and low performers?
Answer: Distribution of performance ratings across rating categories
Examining the distribution of ratings reveals whether the system meaningfully differentiates performance levels or suffers from rating compression.