Describe the advantages and disadvantages of using the forced distribution appraisal method for college professors.
Dessler states in the textbook glossary that the forced distribution method is “similar to grading on a curve; predetermined percentages of rates are placed in various performance categories” (Dessler, 2017, p 648). While I feel that all employees, not just professors, should always strive to perform their best, and think performance evaluations are necessary, I do not think dividing professors into best and worst categories is a beneficial practice.
Some of the advantages that the forced distribution method might offer are that it would reduce falsely inflated performance evaluations and biased promotions based on factors other …show more content…
In addition, if all the students in one professor’s class were poor students and all the students in another professor’s class were top performing students, the professor with the poor performing students would receive a rating based on something that was out of their control. Moreover, it would be costly for the college to continuously replace professors for being in the bottom category. There will always be a bottom category, and again, if all the professors were top performers, then this would be an unnecessary expense. It is my opinion, that this method would only be beneficial, if the college was having issues with several professors.
Furthermore, the forced distribution method could create a competitive environment that inhibits teamwork. Sharing ideas makes classrooms a better place and forced distributions would discourage that because professors would not want to offer ideas to each other if they were competing for the top spot. It would also discourage them from asking anyone else for assistance because they could receive a label of a poor
Dessler states in the textbook glossary that the forced distribution method is “similar to grading on a curve; predetermined percentages of rates are placed in various performance categories” (Dessler, 2017, p 648). While I feel that all employees, not just professors, should always strive to perform their best, and think performance evaluations are necessary, I do not think dividing professors into best and worst categories is a beneficial practice.
Some of the advantages that the forced distribution method might offer are that it would reduce falsely inflated performance evaluations and biased promotions based on factors other …show more content…
In addition, if all the students in one professor’s class were poor students and all the students in another professor’s class were top performing students, the professor with the poor performing students would receive a rating based on something that was out of their control. Moreover, it would be costly for the college to continuously replace professors for being in the bottom category. There will always be a bottom category, and again, if all the professors were top performers, then this would be an unnecessary expense. It is my opinion, that this method would only be beneficial, if the college was having issues with several professors.
Furthermore, the forced distribution method could create a competitive environment that inhibits teamwork. Sharing ideas makes classrooms a better place and forced distributions would discourage that because professors would not want to offer ideas to each other if they were competing for the top spot. It would also discourage them from asking anyone else for assistance because they could receive a label of a poor