Unit 9.6        Essay Completion

Look again at the examination question about upward appraisal (from exercise 9.1). This time you've been given the first letters of the missing words - most of which you've also studied in the other exercises in unit 9. To check the answers, click in the circle after each word and to check the meaning and see other examples of the word, click on the gap. Then use the back button in your browser to return here.  

With reference to one or more case-studies, discuss the following aspects of reverse performance reviews:

Reverse performance reviews, or upward appraisal,  means when employees are given the opportunity to comment on the performance of their managers. The rationale for this is twofold: philosophical and results-driven. As Chris Carey of Datatec industries noted, one potential benefit is that this form of appraisal fulfils a company’s philosophy of participation or teamwork, free from the con                      of a traditional hierarchy. Ricardo Semler, of Semtec, referred to the need for companies to become more democratic in order to realise the ideals of a democratic society. However, he also stressed the other objective – greater efficiency, staff ret                and increased output. He att                          much of his company’s financial success to the degree of upward appraisal in the company.

A company which wishes to imp                          upward appraisal needs to carefully ass                   its existing structures and values. Chris Carey noted that his company would not have been able to uti                      the new system effectively without a good deal of groundwork. It was essential, in his view, to build up trust in order to max                          the positive involvement of staff and management in the new scheme. Ricardo Semler, however, took a more radical approach, getting rid of not only traditional ass                       procedures, but everything he regarded as divisive and unnecessary, despite a good deal of opposition and scepticism.

Carey notes that upward-assessment can be conducted in different mod                  depending on the company culture and the wishes of the staff. Questionnaires, face-to-face interviews and discussions with another manager are all used. This last method is used to fac                               openness from staff who might feel embarrassed criticising their own manager to his face. Both Datatec and Semtec claim to have obt                positive benefits both in the short and the longer term. Chris Carey pointed out the positive effect of the high scores ach                        as well as the reminder to senior managers to improve their communication skills with the workforce. Ricardo Semler emphasises the extremely high staff ret                        rates in his company, as well as its steady growth and div                          over the last twenty years in which the system has been in place.

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