Ch. 8: Sources of Performance Information

Concept and brief description:

Sources of performance information are ways that a company can get feedback or information about an employees performance. There are several methods to finding out about an employees performance. The most used source of performance information is the employees manager. Other ways include through customers, self evaluations, and peer and subordinate reviews.

Emotional hook (provocative question/ claim/real-life problem):

I worked for a company that had the employees review and measure their own performance. This allowed the employee to see how they had grown personally and provided the employees with more freedom. However, some employees didn't feel the reviews and evaluations were very important since the manager was not doing them. Certain employees would fill out evaluations and throw them aside, accomplishing nothing. There needs to be balance.

Key points to elicit in discussion:

There are several ways to get performance information on employees. I think that customers are a great means of obtaining information because the customer has observed the employee directly. Who would know better than a customer who has been helped by the employee. A company should take into consideration the importance of outside sources for providing meaningful information.

Facilitative questions:

Do you think it would be difficult to evaluate yourself? Why?