ARTICLES

A book review

--Reviewed by Linda Gravett, Ph.D., SPHR

If you’re frustrated and dissatisfied with the results your organization gets from your performance appraisal system, this book offers an alternative:  abolish performance appraisals!

The co-authors are Tom Coens, a labor and employment law attorney, and Mary Jenkins, a Human Resource Management consultant.  They bring a complementary style and approach to the subject, covering the legal and management implications of abolishing performance appraisals.

This book addresses issues and questions most Human Resource practitioners face on a daily basis:

• Why isn’t our appraisal system working?

• Should promotions be based on performance appraisals?

• Are there other options for managing performance?

If an organization sincerely wants to transition away from individual performance appraisals and focus instead on enhancing systems, the authors provide a 16-step approach to reaching that objective.  But hold on a minute if you’re thinking this is a cookbook, prescriptive solution to your employee performance issues.  The authors caution that changing your culture away from one that conducts individual appraisals to one that allows employees to perform well within sound systems takes time.  The length of time depends on your organization’s size and complexity; however, one to two years of diligent effort can lay the groundwork for a culture that fosters creativity, quality work, and a productive workplace.

Click here if you would like additional information about this article or would like Dr. Gravett to contact you.