Re: MBO, Perf Reviews, Incent Pay & Quality

Keith Cowan (cowan@pci.on.ca)
Fri, 23 Dec 1994 08:59:59 -0500 (EST)

Performance reviews are likely a natural outgrowth of examinations
in school. We all learned how to pass by satisfying the teacher (and NOT
necessarily the subject!).

I agree with most of the points about its destructive side-effects. When
I was at IBM managing a department of 129 professionals, I adopted the
idea that the event was just a structured communication in which BOTH
parties could openly discuss expectations/ capabilities/ improvement plans
and it worked very well - higher output and higher satisfaction for both.

So even a highly structured environment can be managed by applying good
judgement to its practice. It's just that not many people have the courage
energy or insight to make a bad practice into a GOOD one...

-- 
Keith Cowan       Phone: (416)565-6253           FAX: (905)764-9604
Toronto        Internet: cowan@pci.on.ca  Compuserve: 72212,51